A new physiopathological classification of diabetic neuropathy].

Nowadays, Diabetic Neuropathy (DN) is considered the most common cause of peripheral neuropathy in clinical practice. It can affect sensitive, motor or autonomic nerve fibers, with symmetric, asymmetric, acute or chronic presentations. Due to this variability, with multiple physiopathologic mechanisms involved, a complex clinical classification has been used until recently. The aim of this review is to present a new classification of diabetic neuropathy, based on its physiopathology. It is divided in metabolic microvascular and hypoxic, autoimmune and inflammatory, compressive, secondary to complications of diabetes and related to treatment. It must be understood that DN is not just a functional disease, but a complication of diabetes with molecular and pathological substrates caused by hyperglycemia. Therefore, normalization of blood glucose is a fundamental step towards the successful prevention and treatment of DN.

Citation

Pablo R Olmos, Sergio Niklitschek, Roberto I Olmos, Jorge I Faúndez, Thomas A Quezada, Milan A Bozinovic, Ian A Niklitschek, Jorge Acosta, Claudio N Valencia, Felipe A Bravo. A new physiopathological classification of diabetic neuropathy]. Revista médica de Chile. 2012 Dec;140(12):1593-605

PMID: 23677234

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