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Brainstem auditory evoked potentials during hypoglycaemia in insulin-dependent diabetic children
E Stenninger1, L Leissner, J Aman
1Department of Paediatrics, Orebro Medical Centre Hospital, Sweden.
Insights
Brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEP) in type 1 diabetic children showed no significant changes during normoglycaemia. Minor, transient BAEP alterations occurred only during the initial phase of induced hypoglycaemia.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pediatrics
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is a chronic condition affecting children.
- Hypoglycaemia is a common complication of T1DM treatment.
- Auditory pathway function can be affected by metabolic disturbances.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of hypoglycaemia on brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEP) in children with T1DM.
- To compare BAEP in diabetic children with healthy controls during normoglycaemia.
Main Methods:
- BAEP were recorded in 10 children with T1DM under normoglycaemic, hypoglycaemic, and post-hypoglycaemic conditions.
- A control group of age-, weight-, and sex-matched healthy children was included for comparison during normoglycaemia.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in BAEP latencies were found between diabetic children and healthy controls during normoglycaemia.
- A minor, transient prolongation of inter-peak latency I-V was observed during the initial phase of hypoglycaemia induction (4.1 +/- 0.5 mmol/l).
- No further aggravation of this prolongation was noted at the glucose nadir (1.7 +/- 0.3 mmol/l).
Conclusions:
- Short-term severe hypoglycaemia does not significantly alter BAEP in children with T1DM.
- Minor, transient BAEP changes may occur during the initial phase of hypoglycaemia induction in this population.
- Findings contrast with previous studies in non-diabetic children and adults with T1DM.
Abstract:
Brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEP) were studied in 10 type 1 diabetic children during normoglycaemia (5.5 +/- 0.4 mmol/l), hypoglycaemia and in the post-hypoglycaemic state. In addition, BAEP during normoglycaemia in diabetic children were compared with those of an age-, weight- and sex-matched group of healthy control children. No significant differences were observed between all latencies of the diabetic children compared with those of the healthy children during normoglycaemia. During induction of hypoglycaemia a minor (p < 0.05) prolongation of the inter-peak latency I-V at a blood glucose concentration of 4.1 +/- 0.5 mmol/l was observed. This prolongation was not aggravated at glucose nadir (1.7 +/- 0.3 mmol/l). In conclusion, and in contrast with previous findings in non-diabetic children and in adults with type 1 diabetes, no changes in BAEP were demonstrated during short-term severe hypoglycaemia in diabetic children and only minor transient changes were seen during the initial phase of a standardized induction of hypoglycaemia.