Diagnostic accuracy of the 5.07 monofilament test for diabetes polyneuropathy: influence of age, sex, neuropathic pain and neuropathy severity

A timely new study by Dunker et al. assessed the accuracy of the Semmes-Weinstein 5.07 monofilament in detecting polyneuropathy in patients with diabetes. They found… “poor diagnostic performance for the 5.07/10 g SWME in patients with diabetes referred to polyneuropathy assessments.” They went on to conclude that due to this poor performance, the 5.07/10 g SWME was not recommended for polyneuropathy assessments in patients with diabetes. Although it’s use still recommended by experts including the American Diabetes Association, this study does add to a growing body of evidence questioning the reliance on this test used in isolation. Our recent study supports the combined use of the monofilament and the ETF for the best results in identifying those at risk for diabetic foot ulcers.