Abstract
We obtained EEGs on 74 children (39 F, 35 M) with IDDM ranging in age from 10,4-19.8 yrs (mean 15.3) and duration of IDDM from 1.2-17.1 yrs (mean 8.8). Abnormal EEGs were found in 14 (18.9%), one of whom had poorly controlled seizures. Abnormalities were paroxysmal, either focal 7 (50%) or generalized 2 (14%), while 5 (36%) exhibited background slowing. There was no difference between those with abnormal and normal EEGs comparing glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1) at the time of the study or the prior 2.1±1 yr (12.5% vs 12.9%). Nor were there differences in mean blood glucose (measured hourly over 48 hrs) or hypoglycemia (< 60 mg%) during this period, MAGE, or labile HbA1. We found no difference in mean duration of illness or age of onset in the 2 groups. However, those children developing IDDM before age 5 yrs were more likely to have abnormal EEGs (p=.01). Matching those with abnormal and normal EEGs by duration, age, and sex, there again were no differences in the above variables. Only 25% with abnormal EEGs also had abnormal fluorescein angiograms, compared to 60% in the normal EEC group. Thus, despite a lower prevalence of total EEC abnormalities than in prior reports in IDDM (25-60%) we find a similar increase in paroxysmal features (11%) compared to the 1-2% reported for normal children. These are more likely to occur in children with age of onset <5 yrs and appear to be unrelated to any available measure of glycemic control or microvascular complications. Prospective studies will be required to elucidate the etiology and clinical significance of these findings.
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Singer-Granick, C., Crumrine, P. & Prash, A. 1262 EEG ABNORMALITIES IN CHILDREN IN IDEM. Pediatr Res 19, 321 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198504000-01292
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198504000-01292