Abstract

GONZALEZ FERNANDEZ, Pedro et al. Electroencephalographic findings and severe hypoglycemia in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus. Rev Cubana Endocrinol [online]. 2003, vol.14, n.2, pp. 0-0. ISSN 1561-2953.

Episodes of severe hypoglycemia (SH) constitute a risk because it causes brain function and electroencephalographic recording (EEG) disturbances in patients with diabetes. This study was aimed at determining the frequency of EEG alterations after the diagnosis of diabetes in a group of children and their possible relation with SH, age, metabolic control and progression of diabetes. Forty children aged 1 to 17 years (average 12 years) diagnosed with type 1 diabetes mellitus, who had been treated in the Endocrinology Department of "William Soler" teaching pediatrics hospital from April 1990 to April 1998, were retrospectively studied. The results of the glycosylated hemoglobin test and the referred episodes of severe hypoglycemia were taken into consideration. EEG was performed at the time of diagnosis of diabetes and yearly. Abnormal EEG was classified according to the type of recording. Almost half of patients (45%) showed abnormal EEG, with prevalence of recording of focal discharges, which were significantly higher in patients with 2 or more episodes of severe hypoglycemia and of smaller age at the time of diagnosis of diabetes. There was no relation among abnormal EEG, metabolic control and length of progression of diabetes. The frequency found in this study underlines the importance of performing EEG at the time of diagnosing diabetes mellitus and afterwards, mainly in those patients with severe hypoglycemia and age under 6 years.

Keywords : HYPOGLYCEMIA; TYPE 1 DIABETES MELLITUS; ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAM; INSULIN HYPOGLYCEMIA; BRAIN FUNCTION.