[Motor-evoked potentials in patients with diabetes mellitus type 1].
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to assess the function of the central motor pathway in young patients with diabetes mellitus type 1 by use of transcranial and paravertebral magnetic stimulation.


METHODS
MEPs were recorded in 68 young patients (25+/-5.69 years), with diabetes mellitus type 1, from muscles: abductor digiti minimi and abductor hallucis (AH). Central motor conduction time (CMCT) was calculated by subtracting cortical latency (CL) after transcranial stimulation from the motor nerve conduction time (MNCT) after paravertebral stimulation. The obtained results were compared with normative data from the group of 36 healthy volunteers, matched for age and height. Statistical comparison of CMCT between diabetic and control groups was performed.


RESULTS
There were no significant differences between the diabetics and control means of CMCT. Also, we were unable to elicit the MEPs cortically from AH muscle in 19 (27.9%) of diabetic patients and only in 3 (8.3%) controls.


CONCLUSIONS
CMCT is normal in patients below 40 years of age, in whom the MEPs after transcranial stimulation can be elicited. Lack of MEPs in lower limb muscles following transcranial stimulation in almost 30% of patients in the presence of MEPs in upper limbs may indirectly suggest the dysfunction of central motor conduction in those cases.
Sergiej-Monkiewicz
Irena
I
Zakład Informatyki Medycznej, Akademia Medyczna, ul Banacha 1a, 01-097 Warszawa. isergiej@amwaw.edu.pl
Rysz
Andrzej
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000503:physiopathology*; D019054:Evoked Potentials, Motor; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D050781:Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation / Q000379:methods