Urinary flow disturbance as an early sign of autonomic neuropathy in diabetic children and adolescents

AIMS: Urinary bladder dysfunction is a frequent complication of diabetes mellitus in adults. The aim of this study is to determine the early disturbances of the detrusor contractility in children, and adolescents with type 1 diabetes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The bladder urine flow parameters were investigated in 37 children with type 1 diabetes, 10/37 with cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction (CAD) voided 482 +/- 128 mils (Group A), 27/37 without CAD voided 258 +/- 52 mils (Group B). From an earlier uroflow screening study 20 healthy children formed group control A, who had voided 488 +/- 94 mils, and another 30 healthy children formed group control B, who had voided 260 +/- 50 mils. The compared groups were matched for voided volume, age, weight, and height. There was no evidence of urinary tract abnormalities in any of the children. RESULTS: Time to maximum flow was longer in both diabetic groups as compared with controls (P < 0.01), and the acceleration (the ratio of maximum flow and the time to maximum flow) of diabetics was significantly lower (P < 0.01). Bladder emptying was complete in each subject. Bladder wall disturbances were not seen by ultrasound. CONCLUSIONS: The decreased acceleration of detrusor muscle contraction may be interpreted as an early sign of autonomic neuropathy in children and adolescent with type 1 diabetes, even in patients without CAD. Clinicians may be able to determine autonomic neuropathy by using uroflowmetry that is easy to perform, sensitive, reproducible, and needs only a child's minimal cooperation.