Color visual evoked potentials in children with type 1 diabetes: relationship to metabolic control.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the association between metabolic control (HbA(1c)) and the chromatic mechanisms of children with type 1 diabetes (T1D), by using the color visual evoked potential (VEP).


METHODS
Fifty children with T1D (age range, 6-12.9 years) and 33 age-matched control subjects were tested. VEPs were recorded by placing five electrodes on the scalp according to the International 10/20 System of Electrode Placement. Active electrodes O1, O2, and Oz were placed over the visual cortex. Short-wavelength (S), and long- and medium-wavelength (LM) color stimuli consisted of vertical, photometric isoluminant (1 cyc/deg) gratings presented in a pattern onset (100 ms)-offset (400 ms) mode. Achromatic vertical gratings were presented at 3 cyc/deg. Primary outcome measure was VEP latency. The relationship between S, LM, and achromatic VEP latency, and HbA(1c) was determined by ANCOVA regression.


RESULTS
S-, LM-, achromatic VEP latencies were not associated significantly with HbA(1c). Pubertal status, however, was associated significantly (P = 0.0114) and selectively with S-VEP latency. Pubertal children with T1D had delayed (mean delay, 9.5 ms) S-VEP latencies when compared with the prepubertal children with T1D. However, there was no statistically significant difference (P = 0.1573) in the effect of pubertal status on S-VEP latency between the T1D and control groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Pubertal status rather than HbA(1c) appears to affect selectively the S-VEP latency of preteen children with T1D. Further study is warranted to determine whether the delay in S-VEP latency in pubertal children with T1D changes over time and whether this change could be a predictive marker for future development of background diabetic retinopathy.
Elia
Yesmino T
YT
Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, The Hospital for Sick Children and University of Toronto, Canada.
Daneman
Denis
D
Rovet
Joanne
J
Abdolell
Mohamed
M
Lam
Wai-Ching
WC
Till
Christine
C
Erraguntla
Vasudha
V
Rubab
Shehla
S
Lodha
Nidhi
N
Westall
Carol A
CA
D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D003118:Color Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D005074:Evoked Potentials, Visual / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011627:Puberty / Q000502:physiology
D001786:Blood Glucose; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin