Diabetic neuropathy: structural analysis of nerve hydration by Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

Journal Article · Fri Nov 18 04:00:00 EST 1988 · JAMA, J. Am. Med. Assoc.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.260.19.2872· OSTI ID:6206515

Griffey, R H; Eaton, P; Sibbitt, R R; Sibbitt, Jr, W L; Bicknell, J M

The water content of the sural nerve of diabetic patients was quantitatively defined by magnetic resonance proton imaging as a putative reflection of activity of the aldose-reductase pathway. Thirty-nine patients were evaluated, comparing group A, symptomatic diabetic men with sensory neuropathy; group B, similarly symptomatic diabetic men treated aldose-reductase inhibition; group C, neurologically asymptomatic diabetic men; and group D, control nondiabetic men. Marked increase in hydration of the sural nerve was seen in more than half of the symptomatic diabetic patients. Two of 11 neurologically asymptomatic diabetics had increased nerve hydration, suggesting a presymptomatic alteration of the nerve. Symptomatic diabetics treated with aldose-reductase inhibitors had normal nerve water levels. Increased level of peripheral nerve water represents a new finding in diabetes mellitus. It seems to be related to aldose-reductase activity, involved in the development of neuropathy, and similar to events that occur in other target tissue in human diabetes.

• Research Organization: Univ. of New Mexico, Albuquerque (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6206515
• Journal Information: JAMA, J. Am. Med. Assoc.; (United States), Journal Name: JAMA, J. Am. Med. Assoc.; (United States) Vol. 260:19; ISSN JAMAA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550601* -- Medicine-- Unsealed Radionuclides in Diagnostics
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
BARYONS
BIOCHEMISTRY
BIOELECTRICITY
BIOLOGICAL PATHWAYS
CHEMISTRY
DIABETES MELLITUS
DISEASES
ELECTRICITY
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
ENDOCRINE DISEASES
ENZYME ACTIVITY
ENZYMES
FERMIONS
HADRONS
HISTOLOGY
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
IN VIVO
MAGNETIC RESONANCE
METABOLIC DISEASES
NERVES
NERVOUS SYSTEM
NUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE
NUCLEONS
OXIDOREDUCTASES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PATIENTS
PROTONS
RESONANCE
WATER