Sensory nerve conduction parameters in patients with hypothyroidism

Abstract

Background: Early determination of sensory nerve dysfunction in hypothyroidism can play a significant role in medical management of neuropathies. Objectives: To find out the sensory nerve conduction status of peripheral nerves to evaluate presence of sensory nerve dysfunction in hypothyroid patients. Materials and Method: 32 females and 8males with hypothyroidism and 40 control groups were selected. Sensory nerve conduction parameters of ulnar, median and sural nerve in the hypothyroid group were compared to that of the control group. The relationship of age, sex and BMI with alterations in sensory nerve function was also determined in the hypothyroid group. Result: Among the 32 female patients 15 (46.88%) had altered sensory nerve conduction parameters. Only 2 (25%) out of the 8 male patients had altered sensory nerve conduction parameters. Though females were more affected than males the difference was not statistically significant (p>0.05). Conclusion: There was significant alteration in the sensory nerve conduction parameters in hypothyroid patients. Among the altered parameters, prolonged sensory distal latency and decreased sensory nerve conduction velocity in median nerve was the most common finding.

Keywords

• hypothyroid
• neuropathy
• nerve conduction velocity