Department of Neurology, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo.
OBJECTIVE: Correlation between current perception threshold and sympathetic skin response was investigated in patients with diabetic or alcoholic polyneuropathy. METHODS: Current perception threshold was measured using Neurometer CPT/C, and the sympathetic skin response was measured using Neuropack sigma. PATIENTS: Fourteen patients with diabetic polyneuropathy and 10 patients with alcoholic polyneuropathy were studied. RESULTS: There was a significant negative correlation between the current perception threshold to 5 Hz stimulation and the amplitude of sympathetic skin response. CONCLUSION: Since both current perception threshold to 5 Hz stimulation and sympathetic skin response are related to C fibers, these two are considered to be impaired concurrently in diabetic and alcoholic polyneuropathies.