The available treatment approaches for DPN only help in providing symptomatic relief and minimizing pain. However, the cure and nerve damage repair is not possible. This study depicted that increasing Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) level could protect against DPN. Also, an elevated Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) level is useful in DPN treatment. Future studies, specifically targetting mechanisms of NGF and BDNF levels on DPN are needed.

The study was conducted with an aim to discover BDNF and NGF levels in T2DM patients, healthy individuals and DPN) patients so as to find their effects on DPN.

The clinical data of a total of 110 healthy participants with age: 57.3±8.2 year, height: 165.4±5.5 cm, weight: 64.1±7.5 kg, 83 T2DM patients with age: 56.5±7.9 year, height: 164.8±6.2 cm, and weight: 63.6±6.6 kg, and 65 DPN patients with age: 58.2±7.3 year, height: 166.7±6.7 cm, weight: 63.1±5.8 kg were observed. ELISA was applied to identify the serum NGF and BDNF levels. To evaluate the diagnostic value of BDNF and NGF levels in DPN, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was executed. Logistic regression analysis was carried out to investigate risk factors for DPN.

Serum NGF and BDNF levels are lower in most of the DPN patients. The authors determined that serum NGF and BDNF levels were associated with

Fasting C-peptide

Glycated hemoglobin (HbAlc)

Disease course for patients

2-hour postprandial C-peptide level

24-hour urinary microalbumin excretion.

High specificity, accuracy and sensitivity of BDNF and NGF levels on DPN were noted as per ROC analysis. Risk factors of DPN were the course of disease, postprandial blood glucose level, serum levels of NGF and BDNF and 2-h PCP level.

This study provides evidence on the possible connection of BDNF and NGF levels with the incidence and development of DPN.