Normative Values for Electrochemical Skin Conductances and Impact of Ethnicity on Quantitative Assessment of Sudomotor Function

Abstract

Background: Sudomotor dysfunction is one of the earliest pathophysiologic abnormalities in diabetes. Sudoscan? (Impeto Medical, Paris, France) was developed as a noninvasive, rapid, and quantitative assessment of sudomotor function and has been shown to be sensitive in the detection of neuropathy. This global collaborative analysis aimed to establish reference values in healthy subjects of different ethnic groups, age, and gender, to define factors potentially affecting results, and to provide standardization of the methodology. Materials and Methods: Data from 1,350 generally healthy study participants who underwent sudomotor function testing were collected and analyzed. The relationship between age, height, weight, gender, glycemic and lipid profiles, ethnicity, and hand and foot electrochemical skin conductance (ESC) was assessed among subgroups of participants. Results: Lower mean hands and feet ESC values were observed in African American, Indian, and Chinese subjects (P?