Investigation of auditory brainstem function in elderly diabetic patients with presbycusis.
We performed brainstem auditory evoked potential (BAEP) examinations in 100 patients older than 60 years and having type I diabetes mellitus and presbycusis. The aim of our investigation was to compare the BAEP results of this group with those of healthy controls with presbycusis and to look for possible correlations between alteration of the auditory brainstem function and the aging of elderly diabetic patients. Absolute and interpeak latencies of all waves were prolonged significantly in the study group of diabetic patients. The amplitudes of all waves I through V were diminished in the study group as compared to those in the control group, with statistical significance present for all waves. Analysis of the latencies (waves I, II, I, and V), interpeak latencies (I-V), and amplitudes (I, II, III, and V) of BAEP revealed a significant difference between those of diabetics and those of healthy elderly controls with presbycusis. These data support a hypothesis that there is a brainstem neuropathy in diabetes mellitus that can be assessed with auditory brainstem response testing even in the group of elderly patients with sensorineural hearing loss.
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Odjel Klinicka Bolnica Dubrava, Zagreb, Croatia. jelen.kovacic@gmail.com
Jelena
J
Kovacií
Zoran
Z
Lajtman
Ivan
I
Ozegović
Predrag
P
Knezević
Tomislav
T
Carić
Ana
A
Vlasić
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001306:Auditory Pathways / Q000503:physiopathology; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000503:physiopathology; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003929:Diabetic Neuropathies / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016057:Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011304:Presbycusis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D012016:Reference Values