title: Tap-induced blink reflex and central nervous system dysfunction in diabetics with hyperosmolality.
abstract: We studied the effect of hyperosmolality on the tap-induced blink reflex (TBR) in patients with diabetes. The TBR, consisting of R1 and R2 components, was either absent or delayed in patients compared to controls. The abnormalities correlated better with the degree of hyperosmolality than with the level of blood glucose. TBR was usually absent in unconscious patients with greatly elevated serum osmolality. In some patients with similar elevations in serum osmolality the R2' component was absent at a time when consciousness was preserved. Hence, TBR may be useful in monitoring CNS dysfunction in diabetics with hyperosmolality.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Mejiro 2nd Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tachibana
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yasuhara
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ross
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001767:Blinking; D002493:Central Nervous System Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003926:Diabetic Coma / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006944:Hyperglycemic Hyperosmolar Nonketotic Coma / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged