[Diabetes specific hand changes (cheiropathy) in children and adolescents with insulin-dependent diabetes (type I)]

215 children and adolescents with insulin dependent diabetes (age: 12(6)/12 +/- 3(9)/12 yrs; duration of diabetes 4(5)/12 +/- 3(9)/12 yrs, daily insulin requirement: 0.74 +/- 0.26 I.U./kg b.w.) were investigated for the presence of hand changes (cheiropathy) due to diabetes. Controls were 110 healthy persons of similar age (age: 11(5)/12 +/- 4(8)/12 yrs). Signs of cheiropathy were found in 44 (20.5%) of the diabetics. In 28 of these diabetics reduced mobility of the proximal and/or distal interphalangeal joints of one finger and in 16 others of at least two fingers was observed. No pathological alterations were found in the wrists, shoulder joints or spine. Mild signs of cheiropathy were seen in 5 (4.5%) of the controls. A significant positive relationship was found between age and duration of diabetes and the severity of cheiropathy. Diabetics with cheiropathy also had significantly higher daily insulin requirements than others. Of 49 patients with good diabetic control only one (2.0%) had signs of cheiropathy. In the group of 82 diabetics with fair control 12 (14.6%) showed hand changes, in the group of 84 patients with poor control 31 (36.9%). Cheiropathy must be considered to be a prognostic indicator of impending microangiopathy (retinopathy, nephropathy and neuropathy) in diabetic children and adolescents.