Long-term neurological dysfunction and neonatal hypoglycaemia after diabetic pregnancy.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if children born to mothers with diabetes mellitus during pregnancy, who subsequently developed neonatal hypoglycaemia, experienced long-term neurological dysfunction.


METHODS
Thirteen children with, and 15 without, neonatal hypoglycaemia (blood glucose < 1.5 mmol/l) were randomly selected from a larger cohort and investigated at the age of 8 years. They were also compared with 28 age matched healthy controls.


RESULTS
Children with neonatal hypoglycaemia had significantly more difficulties in a validated screening test for minimal brain dysfunction than controls and were also more often reported to be hyperactive, impulsive, and easily distracted. On psychological assessment, they had a lower total development score than normoglycaemic children born to diabetic mothers, and control children.


CONCLUSIONS
Neonatal hypoglycaemia in diabetic pregnancy was associated with long-term neurological dysfunction related to minimal brain dysfunction/deficits in attention, motor control, and perception.
Stenninger
E
E
Department of Paediatrics, Orebro Medical Centre Hospital, Sweden.
Flink
R
R
Eriksson
B
B
Sahlèn
C
C
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007003:Hypoglycemia / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D007328:Insulin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills; D011247:Pregnancy; D011254:Pregnancy in Diabetics / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D011581:Psychological Tests
D007328:Insulin