Improvement of sensory impairment in patients with peripheral neuropathy

Abstract

Objective: To report the findings in 27 patients with peripheral neuropathy (21 with lower extremity sensory impairment associated with diabetic peripheral neuropathy and 6 with other causes), who received treatment with monochromatic near-infrared photoenergy (890 nm) delivered by the Anodyne Therapy System (ATS).

Methods: All enrolled patients exhibited abnormal sensory perception (either hyperesthesia or hypoesthesia) based on a qualifying examination with the Neurometer CPT (current perception threshold) (baseline CPT). The patients received 10 ATS treatments (each lasting 40 minutes) during a 2-week period and then underwent CPT retesting to determine the extent of improvement of sensory impairment in myelinated and unmyelinated sensory fibers of the peroneal nerve.

Results: All patients obtained improvement in sensory impairment in comparison with baseline CPT measures, and 16 of the 27 patients achieved normal sensory responses in all nerve fiber subpopulations. Ten patients had been tested previously (initial CPT) and did not exhibit spontaneous improvement in sensory impairment during a mean period of 27 months before baseline CPT. After receiving the ATS treatments, however, this group of patients showed improvement in comparison with both initial CPT results and baseline CPT.

Conclusion: On the basis of the data from this study, the ATS seems to be a safe and effective treatment to improve sensory impairment associated with peripheral neuropathy due to diabetes and other causes.