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Reduced skeletal muscle quantity and quality in patients with diabetic polyneuropathy assessed by magnetic resonance imaging

Introduction: The aim of this study was to determine whether diabetic polyneuropathy (DPN) is associated with reduced muscle quality using MRI. Methods: MRIs of the tibialis anterior (TA) muscle were recorded from 9 individuals (5 men) with DPN (∼65 years) and 8 (4 men) age‐ and gender‐matched controls. A magnetization transfer ratio (MTR) and T2 relaxation times of the TA were calculated. Results: Despite equal voluntary activation, the DPN group was ∼37% weaker than controls, with a significantly lower proportion (∼8%) of contractile tissue and lower MTR (0.28 ± 0.03 vs. 0.32 ± 0.02 percent units). T2 relaxation time was significantly longer in the DPN group (77 ± 16 ms) compared with controls (63 ± 6 ms). Conclusions: These findings indicate a reduction in the structural integrity and myocellular protein density in the TA of those with DPN. Thus, muscle weakness in DPN is likely due to both a loss of muscle mass and a reduction in contractile quality. Muscle Nerve 53: 726–732, 2016