Summary
Peripheral neuropathy is a well-known complication of diabetes, but few data are available on central lesions. Visual evoked potentials (VEPs) seem a reliable and feasible technique for detecting a conduction delay in the central nervous, system. Seventy-one insulin-dependent type 1 diabetic children (mean age 15±3 years) and 33 controls were investigated for central neuropathy. We used a pattern of reversal stimulation with television display of a checker board pattern (15 min and 30 min check size). The latencies of the positive peak (P100 wave) were significantly lengthened in 17 patients (27%) but no correlation was found between VEPs and age, duration of diabetes, insulin requirement and HbA1 level. A negative correlation was found between VEPs and peripheral nervous conduction velocity. VEPs measurement seems a simple and reliable technique for detecting early alterations in CNS function in diabetics. Our data suggest that central and peripheral nervous alterations progress simultaneously.
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Comi, G., Martinelli, V., Galardi, G. et al. Evaluation of central nervous conduction by visual evoked potentials in insulin-dependent diabetic children. metabolic and clinical correlations. Acta diabet. lat 24, 157–162 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02742854
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02742854