Application and value of corneal confocal microscopy in early evaluation and monitoring of diabetic peripheral neuropathy

YAO Caixia; WU Bing; LI Jianbo

doi:10.16766/j.cnki.issn.1674-4152.003516

Volume 22 Issue 5

May 2024

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Article Navigation > Chinese Journal of General Practice > 2024 > 22(5): 840-844

YAO Caixia, WU Bing, LI Jianbo. Application and value of corneal confocal microscopy in early evaluation and monitoring of diabetic peripheral neuropathy[J]. Chinese Journal of General Practice, 2024, 22(5): 840-844. doi: 10.16766/j.cnki.issn.1674-4152.003516

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YAO Caixia, WU Bing, LI Jianbo. Application and value of corneal confocal microscopy in early evaluation and monitoring of diabetic peripheral neuropathy[J]. Chinese Journal of General Practice, 2024, 22(5): 840-844. doi: 10.16766/j.cnki.issn.1674-4152.003516

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Application and value of corneal confocal microscopy in early evaluation and monitoring of diabetic peripheral neuropathy

doi: 10.16766/j.cnki.issn.1674-4152.003516

YAO Caixia^{1, 2}
, WU Bing³
, LI Jianbo^{1
,
,}

1.
Department of Endocrinology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, China

Funds:

82070832

JLY2021172

Received Date: 2023-12-11
Available Online: 2024-07-20

Abstract

Abstract

Cornea is the most innervated organ of human body, which is responsible for the maintenance of corneal nutrition and homeostasis. Corneal innervation is impaired in diabetes, and it has been widely proved that diabetic neuropathy affects the corneal sub-basal nerve plexus, including corneal nerve fibers morphology, length and density. These changes seem to prior to the clinical onset of diabetic neuropathy. Corneal confocal microscopy (CCM) is a rapid, non-invasive, reproducible, and simple ophthalmic imaging technique that allows for the study of different layers of the cornea at a cellular level. It enables the in vivo assessment of corneal nerve loss in patients with diabetes. Corneal nerve loss has demonstrated excellent diagnostic value for somatic and autonomic diabetic neuropathy and can be used to monitor its progression. Recently, an increasing number of studies have utilized corneal confocal microscopy to detect diabetic neuropathy. This review summarized the corneal nerve alterations in patients with diabetes and the relationship between the extent of these changes and the duration and severity of diabetes. It also provided an overview of the relevant evidence regarding the utility of CCM in the early evaluation and monitoring of diabetic peripheral sensorimotor polyneuropathy. We believe that the information about the corneal nerve fibers obtained from the in vivo investigation of the sub-basal nerve plexus using CCM is crucial for the early detection and monitoring of diabetic peripheral neuropathy and its progression.
- Corneal confocal microscopy,
- Corneal nerve,
- Diabetic peripheral neuropathy

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References(44)

References

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Application and value of corneal confocal microscopy in early evaluation and monitoring of diabetic peripheral neuropathy

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Application and value of corneal confocal microscopy in early evaluation and monitoring of diabetic peripheral neuropathy

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