Abstract: Objective To investigate the relationship between nerve conduction velocity(NCV)and syndrome differentiation of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy(DPN).Methods 172 patients with DPN were scored by 5 grades according to their symptoms which were classified by 5 kinds of patterns such as Qi-deficiency,Yin-deficiency,Yang-deficiency,Blood-stasis,Phlegm-dampness.NCV of the patients were also tested.Results The frequency of Yin-deficiency and Blood-stasis was more than 50%.The proportion and scores were significantly higher in the elder-age group than in the younger-age group(P<0.05).The scores of Blood-stasis and Yang-deficiency increased in the patients with longer-course(P<0.01).The correlation analysis showed that scores of nervous system were correlated positively with scores of Yin-deficiency,Yang-deficiency and Blood-stasis.There were positive correlation between scores of Qi-deficiency and fasting blood glucose(FBG)as well as between scores of Yin-deficiency and a-lipoprotein(LPa),and between scores of Yang-deficiency and homocysteine(Hcy).The proportion of Yin-deficiency and blood stasis in abnormal NCV group were higher than the normal while the results of Qi-deficiency and Phlegm-dampness were contrary.But the consequence had no statistical significance(P>0.05).Abnormality of NCV was aggravated with the high scores of Yang-deficiency and blood stasis.The analysis with logistic stepwise regression showed that diabetic course,levels of FBG and systolic blood pressure(SBP),be complicated by DN and DR,scores of nervous system sign were the independent risk factors for NCV.Conclusion Yin-deficiency and Blood-stasis are the major TCM syndromes in patients with DPN.The degree of Yang-deficiency and Blood-stasis influenced on the parameters of NCV.Abnormality of NCV can be aggravated with long diabetic course,high levels of FBG and SBP,be complicated by DN and DR,high scores of nerve system sign.

Key words: type 2 diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, nerve conduction velocity, scores of nervous system, syndrome