Cutaneous nerves in diabetic neuropathy: an immunohistochemical study

Abstract

Background Diabetic neuropathy is usually investigated using the invasive sural nerve biopsy technique; while little is known about dermal nerve alteration in diabetic neuropathy. Patients and Methods Skin biopsies from the lower leg of five diabeties (mean age, 55 years) with autonomic and sensorimotor peripheral neuropathy were compared to biopsies from five non-diabetic controls (mean age, 47 years). Immunohistochemical methods were employed using the anti-neurofilament monoclonal antibodies 127.11 and UJ 13A. The dermal nerve profile areas were counted with a Quantimet image analyser. Results The diabetie biopsies gave significantly lower readings than the controls (/'<0.05, Mann-Whitney L'-test). Conclusion Skin biopsy is a simple and reliable method for evaluating distal nerves in diabetes.