Effects of hemorheological factors on the development of hypertension in diabetic children

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of hemorheological factors on the development of hypertension in diabetic children without retinopathy and persistent microalbuminuria. Arterial blood pressures were measured in 46 diabetic children and were compared with those of 29 healthy non-obese and 32 obese age- and sex-matched children. Higher systolic (SBP) (109.0 +/- 13.0 mmHg) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (74.3 +/- 9.5 mmHg) were obtained in diabetics (independent of age, sex, duration, and control degree of diabetes), when compared with non-obese children (SBP: 97.9 +/- 10.3 mmHg, DBP: 74.3 +/- 9.5 mmHg; p < 0.01, p < 0.05, respectively). No significant DBP and SBP difference was found between diabetics and obese children. When compared with non-obese children, blood viscosity, plasma viscosity, serum viscosity, serum albumin, and plasma fibrinogen values were found elevated in diabetics and were correlated with SBP and DBP. Serum haptoglobin levels and lipid profile were normal. The multivariate discriminant analysis demonstrated plasma viscosity and fibrinogen to be the most important variables related to the development of hypertension. The results of this study revealed that: (1) arterial blood pressures are high in diabetic patients independent of age, sex, duration of diabetes, control degree of diabetes, and lipid profiles; (2) arterial blood pressure levels in diabetic children are affected primarily from changes of plasma viscosity and fibrinogen; and (3) a common mechanism might play a role in the pathogenesis of hypertension in obese and diabetic children.     

Severe hypoglycaemia and cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction in type I diabetic children treated with intensified conventional insulin therapy.

To assess the relationship between severe hypoglycaemias and autonomic dysfunction, five cardiovascular tests (resting heart rate, hyperventilatory arrhythmia, standing/lying heart rate ratio, orthostatic decrease in blood pressure, and increase in blood pressure during sustained handgrip) were performed in a 1-yr prospective study of 34 insulin-dependent diabetic children treated with intensified conventional insulin therapy (ICIT). There were twelve severe episodes in 7 diabetic children, and the remaining 27 patients had no severe hypoglycaemia. The hypoglycaemic group had a longer duration of diabetes than the nonhypoglycaemic group (5.4 SD 2.5 years vs. 2.8 SD 2.2 years, p less than 0.02). The hyperventilatory arrhythmia in the hypoglycaemic group in comparison with the nonhypoglycaemic group was significantly decreased (before ICIT: 16.1 SD 3/min vs. 24.4 SD 5/min, p less than 0.01; 1 yr thereafter: 17.3 SD 3/min vs. 26.0 SD 5/min, p less than 0.01). The hypoglycaemic group showed a pronounced orthostatic decrease in blood pressure compared to the nonhypoglycaemic group (before ICIT: 13.2 SD 4 mmHg vs. 6.0 SD 4 mmHg, p less than 0.01; 1 yr thereafter: 12.3 SD 4 mmHg vs. 5.6 SD 4 mmHg, p less than 0.01). Three or more abnormal cardiovascular test results were found in patients of the hypoglycaemic group who showed abnormal hyperventilatory arrhythmia and abnormal orthostatic decrease in blood pressure simultaneously, whereas such a coexistence was not found in the nonhypoglycaemic group. These observations may support the view that diabetic children and adolescents with autonomic dysfunction are susceptible to severe hypoglycaemia during ICIT.     

The prevalence of microalbuminuria in diabetic children and adolescents and its relation to puberty

The albumin excretion rate (AER) was studied in two groups of diabetic children and adolescents. Twenty-four-hour AER was studied in 75 children with diabetes for 5 years, in 49 children with diabetes for 10 years, in 55 children with diabetes for 10-20 years and in 21 age matched healthy controls. Overnight AER was studied in 129 diabetic children and adolescents with a duration of diabetes varying from 1-14 years. Diabetics exhibited a wide range of AER-values and when expressed per body surface area, diabetic children had significantly higher AER compared to controls. Log transformed AER-values were significantly correlated to age and body surface area in diabetics but not in controls. In the diabetics, log AER was also correlated to systolic and diastolic blood pressure but not to HbA1c. 20% of the diabetics had AER values exceeding the upper value for healthy controls which was 18.5 micrograms/min. 31/35 of them were older than 12 years. In both groups of diabetics, 5% had AER-values exceeding those reported to be predictive for later development of overt nephropathy, the youngest being 16 years old. When comparing diabetic children 0-12 years (i.e. before the maximal growth spurt of puberty) to those older than 12 years, at the same duration of diabetes, the latter group had significantly higher AER-values. No sex difference was found in either age group. It is concluded that after puberty diabetic patients also show evidence of incipient diabetic nephropathy. Thus, routine screening for microalbuminuria is recommended also in pediatric diabetes care after 12 years of age.     

BLOOD PRESSURE IN CHILDREN WITH DIABETES MELLITUS

ABSTRACT. Blood pressure measurements were evaluated in 151 children aged 2–19 years old with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (DM) of a duration of few months to 15 ½ years. Compared with a reference group, the diabetic children had lower diastolic blood pressure (DBP) shortly after start of DM. There was no difference for the systolic blood pressure (SBP). After duration of diabetes of 5 years there were no significant differences in SBP and only significantly lower DBP in girls (median difference 5 mmHg, p <0.01), while the difference in boys is insignificant (median difference 2 mmHg, p =0.32). In a model describing the intraindividual variation in blood pressure and its dependence on age, weight and height it was found that age was insignificant when weight and height were included. For DBP height was also insignificant when weight was included. For the 9 children with retinal microaneurysms the average SBP was significantly higher than expected for diabetic children of that weight and height.     

The Prevalence of Microalbuminuria in Diabetic Children and Adolescents and Its Relation to Puberty

The albumin excretion rate (AER) was studied in two groups of diabetic children and adolescents. Twenty-four-hour AER was studied in 75 children with diabetes for 5 years, in 49 children with diabetes for 10 years, in 55 children with diabetes for 10–20 years and in 21 age matched healthy controls. Overnight AER was studied in 129 diabetic children and adolescents with a duration of diabetes varying from 1–14 years. Diabetics exhibited a wide range of AER-values and when expressed per body surface area, diabetic children had significantly higher AER compared to controls. Log transformed AER-values were significantly correlated to age and body surface area in diabetics but not in controls. In the diabetics, log AER was also correlated to systolic and diastolic blood pressure but not to HbA_1c. 20% of the 0 diabetics had AER values exceeding the upper value for healthy controls which was 18.5 μg/min. 31/35 of them were older than 12 years. In both groups of diabetics, 5% had AER-values exceeding those reported to be predictive for later development of overt nephropathy, the youngest being 16 years old. When comparing diabetic children 0–12 years (i.e. before the maximal growth spurt of puberty) to those older than 12 years, at the same duration of diabetes, the latter group had significantly higher AER-values. No sex difference was found in either age group. It is concluded that after puberty diabetic patients also show evidence of incipient diabetic nephropathy. Thus, routine screening for microalbuminuria is recommended also in pediatric diabetes care after 12 years of age.     

Blood pressure in children with diabetes mellitus

Blood pressure measurements were evaluated in 151 children aged 2-19 years old with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (DM) of a duration of few months to 15 1/2 years. Compared with a reference group, the diabetic children had lower diastolic blood pressure (DBP) shortly after start of DM. There was no difference for the systolic blood pressure (SBP). After duration of diabetes of 5 years there were no significant differences in SBP and only significantly lower DBP in girls (median difference 5 mmHg, p less than 0.01), while the difference in boys is insignificant (median difference 2 mmHg, p = 0.32). In a model describing the intraindividual variation in blood pressure and its dependence on age, weight and height it was found that age was insignificant when weight and height were included. For DBP height was also insignificant when weight was included. For the 9 children with retinal microaneurysms the average SBP was significantly higher than expected for diabetic children of that weight and height.     

Reduced left ventricular afterload and increased contractility in children with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus: An M-mode and Doppler-echocardiographic evaluation of left ventricular diastolic and systolic function

Summary Twenty-three children with diabetes mellitus, their ages ranging from 0.2–9.8 years, but with no sign of diabetic microvascular disease were investigated by M-mode and Doppler echocardiography, along with a comparable group of control subjects. In the diabetics, the fractional shortening and the mean velocity of fractional shortening were 14 and 18% higher, respectively, whereas the left ventricular end-systolic wall stress, an indicator of left ventricular afterload, was markedly reduced (22%). Assuming an unchanged preload in the two groups, this indicates a reduced afterload in these children. Systolic and diastolic time intervals, heart rate, and blood pressure were similar in diabetics and controls. Doppler-derived transmitral left ventricular filling indices were also similar. Thus, in these diabetic children no signs of left ventricle is considered to be due to a reduced afterload in early insulin-dependent diabetes.     

RENAL FUNCTION IN RELATION TO METABOLIC CONTROL IN CHILDREN WITH DIABETES OF DIFFERENT DURATION

ABSTRACT. To evaluate the interpretation of different kidney function tests in diabetic children and teenagers we have studied 47 children with a duration of diabetes up to 5 years, 61 children with a duration of 5.1-10 years and 49 children with a duration of >10 years. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) measuerd as inulin clearance or creatinine clearance, clearance PAH (C_PAH), filtration fraction (FF), 24-hour urinary excretion of β₂-microglobulin and albumin were examined and correlated with short- and longterm indices of metabolic control. In all groups of duration GFR as measured by inulin clearance was increased compared with reference values from age matched controls. In patients who had had diabetes for 0-5 years a significant positive correlation was found between inulin clearance and blood glucose during the examination. Inulin clearance was also correlated to HBA_1c as well as to 24-hour urinary glucose (mean of 4-6 samples during two years). No such correlation was found in the group who had had diabetes for 5-10 years but in patients with a duration of diabetes >10 years a significant inverse relation was found between GFR and HbA_1c. The 24-hour urinary excretion of albumin was significantly higher in all groups of diabetics compared with controls. The urinary excretion of β₂-microglobulin was similar in diabetics and controls. In the total material no significant correlation could be found between inulin clearance and creatinine clearance. On the other hand significant inverse correlations were found between creatinine clearance and indices of metabolic control. It is concluded that GFR as measured by inulin clearance is related to indices of metabolic control in a different way with different duration of diabetes. As long as the relation between the increased GFR detectable early in the disease to diabetic nephropathy is unknown the predictable value of this kidney function test is low and prospective studies are necessary. Creatinine clearancee assayed by the method of Jaffé is a poor indicator of GFR in diabetics with a poor metabolic control. 24-hour urinary excretion of albumin measured by sensitive techniques might be predictive for diabetic nephropathy.     

Autonomic blood pressure control in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus

Introduction:  Increased daytime blood pressure and reduced nocturnal dipping can already be found in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus. We hypothesized that impaired baroreflex sensitivity can cause this abnormal blood pressure behavior in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes, reflecting an early stage of diabetic autonomic neuropathy.
Methods:  In the present study, we monitored beat-to-beat blood pressure and pulse interval non-invasively with portapres© in 38 patients with type 1 diabetes (7–18 yr) and 14 non-diabetic subjects (5–17 yr). The Trigonometric Regressive Spectral Analysis was used to assign spontaneous oscillations of blood pressure and pulse interval to defined frequency bands between 0.003 and 1.0 Hz and to calculate baroreflex sensitivity. Correlations with diabetes-specific data like hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and with 24-h blood pressure measurements were calculated.
Results:  The diabetic subjects displayed significantly less variance of blood pressure and pulse interval in the high frequency (HF) bands and a lower BRS. BRS decreased with higher HbA1c and daily insulin dose. We also saw significant changes in spectral variance of blood pressure and pulse interval with these parameters. Patients with higher sympathetic activity (LF/HF-ratio) during daytime measurements displayed more nocturnal dipping.
Conclusion:  Our data evidence impaired baroreflex sensitivity in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus. We suggest spectral analysis of spontaneous blood pressure and pulse interval oscillations during night sleep to further pursue the role of baroreflex sensitivity in the etiology of the non-dipping phenomenon in diabetic patients.     

Plasma total homocysteine levels in children with type 1 diabetes: relationship with vitamin status, methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase genotype, disease parameters and coronary risk factors

The objectives of this study were: to determine plasma total homocysteine tHcy levels and the prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia in children with type 1 diabetes, to determine correlates of plasma tHcy levels with nutritional factor such as serum folic acid and vitamin B12 levels, genetic factors as methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase MTHFR gene polymorphism (C677T and A1298C), to attempt to identify possible dependencies between tHcy and the degree of metabolic control, the duration of the disease and presence of complications, and also to determine the relationship between other coronary risk factors. Plasma tHcy levels and other related parameters performed in 32 children with type 1 diabetes and 23 age-sex matched healthy children. Median tHcy level was higher in the patient group (11.38, 3.28 to 66.01 micromol/l) than the control group (8.78, 1.06 to 13.66 mol/l) (p < 0.05). A 28.1 per cent (n = 9) of the diabetic patients had hyperhomocysteinemia, four case with mild and five case with moderate. Plasma tHcy levels were positively correlated with disease duration and C-reactive protein CRP levels and negatively correlated with disease onset age. The hyperhomocysteinemic group had higher CRP levels, longer disease duration and early onset of disease than non-hyperhomocysteinemic group (p < 0.05 in both), respectively. The hyperhomocysteinemic group had significantly higher CRP, total cholesterol, triglyceride, apolipoprotein B, systolic blood pressure, blood urea nitrogen and creatinine levels and lower folate, apolipoprotein A1 levels and glomerular filtration rate values than the control group. Plasma tHcy levels were higher in diabetic children with poor metabolic control. Because of hyperhomocysteinemia is common in diabetic children and plasma tHcy levels correlated with early onset of the disease and disease duration, we recommend the usage of plasma tHcy levels as a risk indicator parameter with other coronary risk factor for detecting and preventing cardiovascular disease in diabetic children.     

Cardiovascular response to dopamine in hypotensive preterm neonates with severe hyaline membrane disease

The effect of low dose (2, 4, and 8 g/kg per min) dopamine infusion on blood pressure, heart rate and renal function was studied in 18 hypotensive, preterm infants with severe hyaline membrane disease (HMD). Significant dose-related effects found during dopamine infusion were systolic and diastolic blood pressure elevation and diuretic effect, while heart rate increase occurred only with 8 g/kg per min of the drug. This indicates, that in the preterm neonate, dopamine at low doses has a pronounced effect on the alpha-and dopamine-receptors, while its beta-receptor stimulating activity is minimal. We demonstrated a significantly decreased metabolic clearance rate of dopamine in preterm infants. Thus, beside the differences in the vascular receptors' maturation, the decreased metabolic clearance rate should also be taken into account when explaining the cardiovascular and renal effects of low dose dopamine infusion in these babies. Dopamine was found to be useful in normalizing low arterial blood pressure, in improving impaired peripheral circulation, and in producing a marked diuresis in hypotensive preterm neonates with severe hyaline membrane disease.Abbreviations CVP central venous pressure - HMD hyaline membrane disease - tcpO₂ transcutaneous oxygen tension - TPVR total peripheral vascular resistance     

Angiotensin converting enzyme activity in children with congenital heart disease

Serum angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) activity was determined in 46 children with congenital heart disease with normal and abnormal lung perfusion: (1) congenital heart disease with normal pulmonary blood flow (12 patients); (2) congenital heart disease with increased pulmonary blood flow (18 patients); (3) congenital heart disease with decreased pulmonary blood flow (16 patients). There was no significant difference in serum ACE activity between the three groups. In group 2 serum ACE activity had a tendency to correlate inversely with both mean pulmonary arterial pressure (r=–0.43;P0.05) and pulmonary vascular resistance (r=–0.48;P=0.05). No further correlations between serum ACE activity and age, serum electrolytes, creatinine nor other haemodynamic data could be established.     

Insulin response to glucagon in diabetic children

Glucagon promotes a rapid, short-lasting increase of plasma insulin levels in diabetic children. Following intravenous injections of 5 and 20 g/kg, every child responds to the stimulus. Even the smallest load used in these studies, 1 g/kg, still raises the insulin plasma concentration in 2 out of 4 diabetics. Compared to the responses of non-diabetic controls, lower insulin maxima, and a shorter duration of plasma insulin elevation above baseline levels are observed in diabetic children, in spite of their higher blood sugar values. Peaks are measured after 1 to 2 min in the diabetics, at 3 min in the controls. Therefore, it seems likely that the mechanism of insulin release is undisturbed in the diabetics, while their pancreatic insulin reserve is severely impaired.Differences of the clinical courses of overt diabetes in childhood (immediate insulin requirements (D(i)) versus temporary compensation on diet only (D(d)) seem to be due to variations of the endogenous insulin output. Glucagon-induced insulin release, and even more the insulin/glucose ratio following stimulation represent adequate and objective criteria for these differences.Supported by a grant from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Bad Godesberg.     

Red blood cell sorbitol in diabetic children

When red blood cells (RBC) were incubated with various concentrations of glucose, the RBC sorbitol level increased in a concentration-dependent manner. The elevated RBC sorbitol level was not reduced by further incubation in a glucose-free medium. In both diabetic and non-diabetic children, an increase of RBC sorbitol levels occurred in the oral glucose tolerance test and the return to baseline was delayed in diabetics compared with non-diabetics. In the majority of diabetics (87%), RBC sorbitol levels exceeded the upper limit of the normal range, which was arbitrarily determined as the mean + 2 s.d., in healthy non-diabetic children and adults. A good correlation was observed between RBC sorbitol levels and plasma glucose levels (r = 0.644). In both diabetics and non-diabetics, no correlation was observed between RBC sorbitol levels and age, and in diabetics the RBC sorbitol level was not related to the duration of disease. A good correlation was observed between RBC sorbitol levels, and hemoglobin Alc (HbAlc) or fructosamine levels in diabetic children.     

Pupil size in diabetes.

Sympathetic function was studied in 101 diabetic children and 102 age and sex matched control children, as part of a longitudinal study of the evolution of microvascular disease in the population of diabetic children and adolescents in Avon County. The median (range) age of the diabetic population was 13.5 (6.0-17.2) years, the duration of diabetes was 4.0 (0.4-13.9) years, and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1) was 10.9 (7.0-18.1)%. Pupillary adaptation in darkness, as an index of sympathetic neuropathy, was measured using a Polaroid portable pupillometer. Diabetic children had a significantly smaller median pupillary diameter, measured as the pupil/iris ratio and expressed as a percentage, than control children (median (range) 62.9 (50.3-72.1) v 65.9 (52.2-73.8)). Pupillary diameter was significantly related to diabetes duration (r = -0.22), HbA1 (r = -0.34), systolic blood pressure (r = -0.25), diastolic blood pressure (r = -0.49), and mean albumin/creatinine ratio on random urine samples (r = -0.26). Pupillary diameter was not related to age (r = -0.1). Eight (7.9%) diabetic and four (3.9%) control children were identified as having abnormal pupillary dilation in darkness. In comparison with the rest of the diabetic population, these diabetic children had longer diabetes duration and poorer glycaemic control. Polaroid pupillometry has demonstrated subclinical autonomic neuropathy in a population of diabetic children and adolescents. These abnormalities were related to poor metabolic control, long diabetes duration, and also to other indices of microvascular disease.     

Perioperative haemodynamic effects of an intravenous infusion of calcium chloride in children following cardiac surgery

Murdoch IA, Qureshi SA, Huggon IC. Perioperative haemodynamic effects of an intravenous infusion of calcium chloride in children following cardiac surgery. Acta Pzdiatr 1994;83:658–61. Stockholm. ISSN 0803–5253
Twelve children received an infusion of 10% calcium chloride 0.1 ml/kg to a maximum dose of 5 ml, infused over 5 min, following open heart surgery. Blood ionized calcium, systemic arterial pH, cardiac index, mean systemic arterial blood pressure and systemic vascular resistance index were measured at baseline and repeated 20 and 40 min following completion of the infusion. There was considerable overlap, with no significant differences in the response to the calcium chloride infusion between children with ionized hypocalcaemia (< 1.1 mmol/l) and those with ionized normocalcaemia when its effect on percentage change in either the haemodynamic or biochemical measurements was assessed ( p>0.2 for all measurements; Mann-Whitney). For this reason they were treated as a single group. Significant changes from baseline were noted in mean systemic arterial pressure (p 10.02), cardiac index (p<0.01) and systemic vascular resistance index (p<0.01) after completion of the calcium chloride infusion when analysed using Friedman's two-way analysis of variance. A significant increase in mean systemic arterial blood pressure occurs after an infusion of 10% calcium chloride as a direct result of an increase in the systemic vascular resistance index with a concomitant decrease in cardiac index.     

Cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction in diabetes mellitus.

The aim was to assess cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction in children and adolescents with diabetes mellitus. A total of 110 children and adolescents with type 1 (insulin dependent) diabetes (aged 6 to 18 years) and 130 non-diabetic controls were studied. Resting heart rate, heart rate variation to deep breathing, heart rate response to standing from a lying position, fall in systolic blood pressure on standing, and rise in diastolic blood pressure during sustained handgrip were measured. A reference range of results was obtained in the controls. Diabetic children had significantly increased resting heart rate [92.4 (SEM 2.5) v 84.2 (2.2) beats/min], decreased deep breathing heart rate variation [25.3 (0.9) v 32.8 (0.6) beats/min], and lower standing/lying heart rate ratio [1.23 (0.04) v 1.31 (0.03)] compared with controls. 46 diabetic children (42%) had at least one abnormal autonomic test result. Of these, 20 (15%) had only one abnormal test and 26 (24%) had two or more abnormal tests. Using multiple logistic regression analysis, longer diabetes duration and worse long term metabolic control were independently predictive of cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction as the dependent variable [adjusted OR (95% CI): 2.9 (1.1-5.9) and 3.3 (1.2-6.4), respectively]. Cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction is not rare in children with diabetes. Efforts should be made to maintain the best metabolic control to prevent or delay these complications.     

SERUM APOLIPOPROTEINS A-I, A-II AND B IN DIABETIC CHILDREN AND MATCHED HEALTHY CONTROLS

ABSTRACT. Serum concentrations of apolipoprotein (apo) A-I, A-II and B were determined in 28 diabetic children (age 3–16 years) and 14 healthy matched controls. In the healthy children the serum apo A-I concentration was 120 ± 20 arbitrary units (A. U.) (mean ± S. D.), apo A-II 111 ± 14 A. U. and apo B 100 ± 34 A. U. (100 A. U. =mean concentration in adult blood donors). The apo A-I concentration was significantly higher in the diabetic children (134 ± 13; p <0.02) than in the healthy controls. In diabetics apo A-II was 116 ± 14 A. U. and apo B 106 ± 21 A. U., values not significantly different from those in the controls. The serum cholesterol concentration in the healthy children correlated strongly to apo A-I and apo A-II, which was not the case in the diabetics. The differences between diabetic and healthy children with respect to correlations between the apolipoproteins and the serum lipids might indicate a different apolipoprotein/lipoprotein lipid relationship in diabetics.     

Single photon emission tomography (SPECT) study of regional cerebral blood flow in normoalbuminuric children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes

Abstract: Cerebral damage in diabetes can be related to chronic hyperglycemia and recurrent severe hypoglycemia as well as due to the associated vasculopathy. The pattern of regional cerebral blood flow using cerebral single photon emission tomography (SPECT) was evaluated in normoalbuminuric type 1 diabetic children and adolescents and its relation to the metabolic control and cognitive functions. Thirty-one type 1 diabetics aged 10–18 yr (mean 14.7 ± 3.4) were included, 16 males and 15 females, divided into four groups: group I (n = 8) with history of recurrent severe hypoglycemia (≥ 3); group II (n = 8) with history of severe diabetic ketoacidosis (≥ 3); group III (n = 7) with recurrent minor hypoglycemia (≥ 3/week); and group IV (n = 8) with controlled diabetes. The control group (V) comprised seven healthy children, aged 10–18 yr (mean 14.2 ± 3.1). SPECT was done using technetium-99m hexamethyl propylene amine oxime. There was significant brain hypoperfusion in diabetics compared with controls, mainly in the basal ganglia (p < 0.01) and frontal regions (p < 0.01), with less changes in parietal and temporal regions. These changes were not related to the age, sex, diabetes duration, mean blood glucose or HbA1C. Basal ganglia hypoperfusion was significant in groups I (p < 0.01) and II (p < 0.01) compared with controlled diabetics. There was no correlation between cerebral SPECT changes and cognitive scores in type 1 diabetics.
Conclusion: Subclinical alterations in cerebral blood flow (hypoperfusion) are present in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mainly affecting the basal ganglia and frontal regions, usually not associated with measurable alterations of the cognitive functions     

Renal function in relation to metabolic control in children with diabetes of different duration

To evaluate the interpretation of different kidney function tests in diabetic children and teenagers we have studied 47 children with a duration of diabetes up to 5 years, 61 children with a duration of 5.1-10 years and 49 children with a duration of greater than 10 years. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) measured as inulin clearance or creatinine clearance, clearance PAH (CPAH), filtration fraction (FF), 24-hour urinary excretion of beta 2-microglobulin and albumin were examined and correlated with short- and longterm indices of metabolic control. In all groups of duration GFR as measured by inulin clearance was increased compared with reference values from age matched controls. In patients who had had diabetes for 0-5 years a significant positive correlation was found between inulin clearance and blood glucose during the examination. Inulin clearance was also correlated to HBA1c as well as to 24-hour urinary glucose (mean of 4-6 samples during two years). No such correlation was found in the group who had had diabetes for 5-10 years but in patients with a duration of diabetes greater than 10 years a significant inverse relation was found between GFR and HbA1c. The 24-hour urinary excretion of albumin was significantly higher in all groups of diabetics compared with controls. The urinary excretion of beta 2-microglobulin was similar in diabetics and controls. In the total material no significant correlation could be found between inulin clearance and creatinine clearance.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)