Table 5.
Selected Spearman rank correlations between severity of neuropathic pain related to peripheral neuropathy (1–4 quantitative score) and the presence of abnormalities in neurological examination and neurophysiological parameters.
| Correlation between NP Severity and: | Whole Study Group | Patients with NP-RPN | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (n = 76) | (n = 29) | |||
| R Spearman | p | R Spearman | p | |
| Karnofsky score | −0.23 | 0.049 | −0.02 | 0.94 |
| Grade of sensory neuropathy according to NCI criteria | 0.62 | <0.001 | 0.78 | <0.001 |
| Grade of motor neuropathy | −0.06 | 0.61 | 0.14 | 0.57 |
| according to NCI criteria | ||||
| Temperature sensation disorders L | 0.14 | 0.222 | 0.38 | 0.085 |
| Pain sensation disorders L | −0.05 | 0.643 | 0.09 | 0.702 |
| Loss of muscle strength L | −0.09 | 0.421 | 0.29 | 0.205 |
| Loss of or decrease in ankle jerk reflexes L | 0.07 | 0.547 | 0.48 | 0.027 |
| Vibratory sense disorders L | −0.04 | 0.721 | 0.04 | 0.857 |
| Position sense disorders L | 0.15 | 0.194 | 0.23 | 0.311 |
| Touch sensation disorders L | 0.14 | 0.232 | 0.12 | 0.61 |
| Median CMAP lat (ms) | 0.21 | 0.069 | 0.33 | 0.133 |
| Median CMAP ampl (mV) | 0.06 | 0.61 | −0.02 | 0.945 |
| Median MCV (m/s) elbow-wrist | 0.03 | 0.801 | 0.2 | 0.386 |
| Median MCV (m/s) above elbow-elbow | −0.2 | 0.152 | 0.27 | 0.298 |
| Peroneal CMAP lat (ms) | −0.07 | 0.569 | −0.2 | 0.382 |
| Peroneal CMAP ampl (mV) | −0.11 | 0.343 | −0.3 | 0.176 |
| Peroneal MCV (m/s) fibular head-ankle | 0.2 | 0.115 | −0.66 | 0.005 |
| Peroneal MCV (m/s) popliteal fossa-fibular head | 0 | 0.993 | −0.14 | 0.591 |
| Ulnar CMAP lat (ms) | −0.01 | 0.962 | −0.21 | 0.351 |
| Ulnar CMAP ampl (mV) | 0.09 | 0.457 | −0.18 | 0.413 |
| Ulnar MCV (m/s) below elbow-wrist | −0.12 | 0.357 | −0.33 | 0.153 |
| Ulnar MCV (m/s) above elbow-below elbow | 0.25 | 0.048 | −0.15 | 0.549 |
| Median SNAP ampl (µV) | −0.12 | 0.289 | −0.46 | 0.03 |
| Median SCV (m/s) | −0.06 | 0.587 | −0.38 | 0.08 |
| Ulnar SNAP ampl (µV) | 0 | 0.98 | −0.19 | 0.394 |
| Ulnar SCV (m/s) | 0.12 | 0.314 | −0.02 | 0.944 |
| Sural SNAP ampl (µV) | 0.1 | 0.386 | −0.06 | 0.794 |
| Sural SCV (m/s) | 0.09 | 0.443 | −0.06 | 0.781 |
| Neuropathy according to AAN | 0.03 | 0.817 | 0.33 | 0.135 |
| Conduction block | 0.14 | 0.594 | 0.5 | 0.5 |
Legend: NP-RPN—neuropathic pain related to peripheral neuropathy; n—number of patients; NCI criteria for sensory neuropathy—grade 1: asymptomatic—loss of deep tendon reflexes or paresthesia; grade 2: moderate symptoms—limiting instrumental activities of daily living (ADLs); grade 3: severe symptoms—limiting self-care ADLs; grade 4: life-threatening consequences—urgent intervention indicated; grade 5: death; NCI criteria for motor neuropathy—grade 1: asymptomatic—clinical or diagnostic observations only; intervention not indicated; grade 2: moderate symptoms—limiting instrumental ADLs; grade 3: severe symptoms—limiting self-care ADLs, assistive device indicated; grade 4: life-threatening consequences—urgent intervention indicated; grade 5: death;. L—left side; CMAP—compound muscle action potential; lat—distal latency; ampl—amplitude; MCV—motor conduction velocity; SNAP—sensory nerve action potential; SCV—sensory conduction velocity; AAN—American Academy of Neurology.