title: Colour vision and persistent microalbuminuria in children with type-1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus: a longitudinal study.
abstract: In an attempt to elucidate colour vision in children with type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus without fluorescein angiographic signs of retinopathy, we studied a group of 50 patients of mean age + or - SD 10.27 + or - 2.89 (range 8.1-13.0 years). Results were compared with a sex-and age-matched control group. The Farnsworth-Munsell 100-hue test showed a significantly higher value in total error score (TES) in diabetics than in controls (64.07 + or - 18.32 and 54.27 + or - 12.87, respectively: P = 0.0004). Diabetic patients were divided in two groups as regards presence of persistent microalbuminuria and followed for 7 years. The HbAlc values of the two groups were: normoalbuminuric 7.10 +/- 2.92%, microalbuminuric 9.79 + or - 1.41 (P = 0.004). Microalbuminuric patients showed a significantly higher TES than normoalbuminuric subjects both at the beginning (94.79 + or - 13.98 vs. 58.10 + or - 11.98) and end of the study (103.07 + or - 14.61 vs. 61.04 + or - 13.36: P < 0.0001), and after follow-up they had a worse TES than at the beginning of the study (P = 0.01); no change in TES was found in normoalbuminuric patients during the study. The results suggest that a deficit in colour vision occurs in diabetic children before the onset of fluorescein angiographic signs of retinopathy. Our follow-up shows that microalbuminuric patients present a significant worsening of colour vision. When a patient shows persistent microalbuminuria, colour vision must be carefully evaluated, also in subjects without fluorescein angiographic signs of retinopathy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Verrotti
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lobefalo
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chiarelli
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mastropasqua
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ciancaglini
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Morgese
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000419:Albuminuria / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000652:urine; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003118:Color Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000652:urine; D003928:Diabetic Nephropathies / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000652:urine; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin