Objective: Electrophysiologic study and 24 hours urine study were analysed in patients with diabetes mellitus in order to assess the correlation between the severity of the diabetic neuropathy and degree of microalbuminuria.

Method: Two hundreds forty one patients with diabetic neuropathy were included and divided into 3 groups - mild, moderate and severe groups. The latency and amplitude of the peroneal motor nerve, median and sural sensory nerves, F-wave of the peroneal nerve and H-reflexes were measured. Microalbuminuria and creatinine clearance with 24 hours urine were studied. The results of the nerve conduction study and the degree of microalbuminuria were evaluated for the correlation between the two signs.

Results: The degree of microalbuminuria significantly increased in accordance with the electrophysiologic severity of neuropathy (p＜0.05). The latencies and amplitudes of the peroneal motor, median and sural sensory nerves had significant correlation with the degree of microalbuminuria (p＜0.05).

Conclusion: The degree of microalbuminuria was significantly correlated with the electrophysiologic severity of diabetic neuropathy. The results suggest that pathogenesis of the neuropathy and nephropathy in patients with diabetes seem the same as microvascular and biochemical basis. (J Korean Acad Rehab Med 2002; 26: 555-561)