Peripheral Nerve Dysfunction and its Correlation to Interleukin-6 Level in Obese Patients

Abstract

* M.B., B.Ch. (2015), Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University. ** Professor of Physical Medicine, Rheumatology and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine – Ain Shams University. *** Professor of Physical Medicine, Rheumatology and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine – Ain Shams University. ****Lecturer of Physical Medicine, Rheumatology and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine-Ain Shams University. Background: Obesity is now a worldwide health problem that predisposes to development of numerous complications, one of which is peripheral neuropathy (PN). Elevated interleukin-6 (IL-6) cytokine levels associating the chronic inflammatory state in obesity is thought to play a major role in obesity complications. Methods: We conducted a Cross-sectional study on 30 obese patients and 10 matched healthy lean controls. All participants were subjected to full history taking, neurological examination, motor and sensory peripheral nerve conduction studies (NCS). Serum IL-6 levels were assessed using a commercially available ELISA. Laboratory investigations such as glycated haemoglobin, thyroid profile, liver and kidney function tests were done to exclude other known causes of PN. Results: Radial, Posterior Tibial and Peroneal nerves had statistically significantly lower motor amplitudes in obese groups compared to control group. Sensory amplitudes of Median nerve showed statistically significant lower values in obese group with PN compared to obese group without PN. Conduction velocities of Median nerve (motor and sensory) and sensory Ulnar nerve showed statistically significant lower CVs in the obese group with PN compared to obese group without PN. Posterior Tibial nerve distal motor latencies and Sensory nerve peak latencies of Median nerve had statistically significant higher values in obese group with PN compared to obese group without PN while statistically significant lower sensory peak latencies of Radial nerve were found in obese group without PN compared to control group. Regarding serum IL-6 levels, highly statistically significant higher levels were found in either obese groups when compared to the control group while no statistical significant difference was present between both obese groups and no correlation was found between serum IL-6 and NCS parameters in obese group with PN. Conclusion: Obesity is associated with PN in non-diabetic subjects using NCS for diagnosis. Our study revealed that there was no correlation found between serum IL-6 levels and nerve conduction parameters in obese patients diagnosed with PN.