Correlation between risk factors for diabetic peripheral neuropathy and nerve conduction study parameters in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus attending Sudan childhood diabetes centre

Abstract

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is the commonest microvascular complication of diabetes mellitus. Risk factors related to the development of DPN are mainly duration of diabetes, degree of glycaemic control, height of the patient and age at onset of diabetes mellitus. This study aimed to correlate between the risk factors for diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) and lower limbs nerve conduction study (NCS) parameters in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus attending Sudan Childhood Diabetes Centre. This cross-sectional study recruited 50 patients with type 1diabetes, with mean disease duration of 4.9 ± 3.8 years attending Sudan Childhood Diabetes Centre. NCS parameters (latency, amplitude, and conduction velocity) of sural, common peroneal and posterior tibial nerves were measured bilaterally. Using Pearson correlation statistics, the study revealed significant negative correlation between the patient age and the motor velocities of tibial and common peroneal nerves. Furthermore, it proved significant negative correlation between the patient height and velocities of sural, tibial and common peroneal nerves. It also showed significant negative correlation between the age at onset of the disease and the motor velocities of the right tibial and right common peroneal nerves. Moreover, there was significant negative correlation between HbA1c and the motor velocities of both right and left tibial nerves. Duration of the disease did not show any correlation with NCS parameters. The study proved that most of the risk factors for diabetic peripheral neuropathy decrease significantly the conduction velocity especially of the motor lower limbs nerves in type 1 diabetic children.