Study of somatosensory evoked potentials in children with newly diagnosed type I diabetes

Abstract

Diabetes is a common metabolic disorder, which causes multi-organ complications. Sensory dominant polyneuropathy and autonomic nervous system neuropathy are recognized as the most common clinical pictures of the nervous system disorders caused by diabetes. Pathological changes in the central nervous system in diabetic patients are relatively unknown and can be referred to as diabetic encephalopathy. The mechanisms underlying this complication remains still poorly understood. Measurable subclinical manifestations are electrophysiological changes, including the impairment of the somatosensory evoked potentials. Aim of the study was to detect possible subclinical features of diabetic neuropathy and/or encephalopathy by investigating peripheral and central somatosensory conduction in children with newly diagnosed type I diabetes. Thirteen children with newly diagnosed type I diabetes (suffering from diabetes no longer than 24 months) were involved in the study of somatosensory evoked potentials. Latencies of potentials N9, N13, N20, P25, peripheral conduction time and central conduction time were analyzed. The control group consisted of 24 age-matched children with tension type headache. All of the analyzed evoked potentials parameters were in the normal range. No significant differences between diabetic and control children were found. Our results indicate that during the first 2 years from diabetes diagnosis in children no subclinical signs of central nervous system impairment and peripheral nervous system as well, can be detected using somatosensory evoked potentials examination.