The PanGut-study: Evoked potentials following rectal balloon distention, a way of evaluating diabetic autonomic neuropathy in the gut?

Sondre Meling*, Erling Tjora, Heike Eichele, Rasmus Bach Nedergaard, Niels Ejskjaer, Christina Brock, Eirik Søfteland

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Aim: There is a lack of methods for investigating the autonomic nerves of the gastrointestinal tract. Our aim was to explore a novel test measuring visceral sensory evoked potentials (EPs) in response to rapid balloon distention in the rectum and compare it to established tests for diabetic neuropathy. Method: Participants with longstanding type 2 diabetes, newly onset, untreated diabetes <1 year, and matched controls, were included. Tests included cardiovascular reflex tests, orthostatic blood pressure, electrical skin conductance assessment, sural nerve testing and monofilament test. The rectal balloon distention pressure at earliest sensation and threshold of unpleasantness were identified and used to elicit mechanical EPs. Results: The pressure at earliest sensation was higher in people with diabetes, 0.038 (0.012) bar vs. controls 0.030 (0.009) bar, p = 0.002, and in people with signs of peripheral neuropathy, 0.045 (0.014) bar, p < 0.01. Clinical correlations between EP amplitude and latency, and other tests were found. Conclusions: Rectal hyposensitivity was associated with both longstanding and early diabetes, indicating enteric sensory dysfunction already in early stages of diabetes. Correlation analyses may indicate that central afferent processing is affected in parallel with peripheral neuronal function.

Original languageEnglish
Article number108452
JournalJournal of Diabetes and its Complications
Volume37
Issue number5
Number of pages9
ISSN1056-8727
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - May 2023

Bibliographical note

Corrigendum has been published here:
Corrigendum to “The PanGut-study: Evoked potentials following rectal balloon distention, a way of evaluating diabetic autonomic neuropathy in the gut?”
Journal of Diabetes and its Complications, Volume 37, Issue 10, October 2023, Pages 108612. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdiacomp.2023.108612

Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Keywords

  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/complications
  • Diabetic Neuropathies/diagnosis
  • Evoked Potentials/physiology
  • Gastrointestinal Tract
  • Humans
  • Rectum/innervation
  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Diabetic autonomic neuropathy
  • Rectal hyposensitivity
  • Evoked potentials
  • Rectal balloon distention

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