Neurofilament (NF), one of the major axonal
cytoskeletal proteins, plays a critical role in degenerative diseases in both the central and the peripheral nervous systems. The aim of this study is to explore the relationship between serum phosphorylated neurofilament-heavy chain (pNF-H) and diabetic
peripheral neuropathy (
DPN) in patients with
type 2 diabetes.Serum pNF-H concentrations were measured by ELISA in hospitalized patients with and without
DPN (n = 118).
DPN was assessed by clinical symptoms, signs, and electromyography.Compared with the non-
DPN group (311.98 [189.59-634.12] pg/mL), the confirmed group (605.99 [281.17-1332.78] pg/mL) patients had the higher serum pNF-H levels (P = 0.007).
DPN was significantly correlated with
C-peptide (r = -0.269), total
cholesterol (TC) (r = 0.185), and pNF-H (r = 0.258). Serum pNF-H levels were independently associated with
DPN (P = 0.004), even after adjusting for age, sex, duration of diabetes, fasting plasma
glucose,
glycosylated hemoglobin A1c, TC,
C-peptide, urinary albuminto/
creatinine ratio, and estimated glomerular filtration rate. Compared with pNF-H quartile 1 (referent), patients in quartile 3 (odds ratio [OR], 3.977; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.243-12.728; P = 0.021) and quartile 4 (OR, 10.488; 95% CI, 3.020-34.429; P = 0.000) had the higher risk of
DPN after adjusting for the confounders.Serum pNF-H levels might be associated with the
DPN, and the correlationship between serum pNF-H and
DPN should be further studied.