Patterns of facial and blink reflex abnormalities in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with short disease duration: a clue to subclinical cranial neuropathy

Abstract Background Cranial neuropathies occur in 3 to 14% of diabetic patients. Motor conduction study the facial nerve and blink reflex are electrophysiologic techniques used assess facio-trigeminal pathway The patterns abnormalities inconsistent among studies. This aimed subclinical short-duration type 2 diabetes mellitus cross-sectional included 30 patients with disease duration ≤ 5 years. We only Toronto clinical neuropathy score 5. enrolled age- sex-matched healthy subjects as a control group. performed motor Patients prior history cranial lesions, stroke, or any other disease-causing polyneuropathy drug-induced were excluded from study. Results Thirty included, 20 females (66.7%) ten males (33.3%). Their mean age was 52.63 ± 8.94 None had evidence neuropathy. There significant differences between controls distal latencies amplitudes compound muscle action potentials contralateral R2 late response reflex. detected 6 (20%). One them (3.3%) abnormalities, four (13.4%) one both abnormalities. Conclusion Subclinical can different recommend studies simple tests for early evaluation neurological affection short T2DM they may appear absence peripheral