[A role of central control in development and progression of diabetic polyneuropathy in teenagers]

A role of central control of peripheral nervous system was investigated in 79 teenagers with noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. The patients were studied using clinical and neurophysiological methods, electroneuromyography and somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEP). The SSEP analysis revealed the disturbances of sensory pathways in the central nervous system at early stage of diabetes mellitus. A new pathogenic mechanism of progressive polyneuropathy with trophic complications is presented. At the initial stage of the disease, low conductivity is combined with a compensating acceleration of conductivity in the central structures. In diabetes course, central conductivity declines and control over peripheral system decreases resulting in the disease progression. In trophic complications, acceleration of conductivity is absent already at the early stages, suggesting a primary weak control over the peripheral nervous system.