title: Diabetic neuropathy in children and adolescents.
abstract: Diabetic neuropathy (DN) represents a major complication of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) but there is considerable uncertainty as to its incidence, prevalence, diagnosis and prognosis in pediatric population. Generally, DN is classified as polyneuropathy, focal neuropathy and autonomic neuropathy. The latter seems to be detectable even in asymptomatic children and adolescents with diabetes and is associated with the most serious consequences, such as hypoglycemia unawareness and cardiovascular dysfunction. A near-normal control of blood glucose in the early years after onset of diabetes may delay the development of clinically significant nerve impairment and, therefore, children and adolescents with diabetes represent a critical target for primary prevention of this complication. The aim of this review is to focus on the main clinical, epidemiological and prognostic aspects of DN in children and adolescents with T1DM. Etiopathogenetic theories and diagnostic tools are also reviewed from in a pediatric perspective.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Chieti, Chieti, Italy. dtrotta@infinito.it
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Trotta
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Verrotti
authors.forename: Carmela
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Salladini
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chiarelli
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001342:Autonomic Nervous System Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology; D003929:Diabetic Neuropathies / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D011627:Puberty
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose