The usefulness of the brainstem auditory evoked potential in the early diagnosis of cranial nerve neuropathy associated with diabetes mellitus

BACKGROUND: An evaluation of the extent and mechanism of damage of the central nervous system in diabetes mellitus is of high value in current neurological research. Electrophysiological abnormalities are frequently present is completely asymatomatic diabetes mellitus (DM) patients. Limited data is available in the use of brainstem auditory evoked potential (BAEP) in DM. AIM: Is to evaluate the efficacy of BAEP as a method useful in the diagnosis of subclinical damage of the central nervous system in DM. MATERIAL AND METHOD: 67 diabetes and 32 healthy controls - age and sex matched - were chosen. The diabetes were of type I and II and more than or less than 10 years duration. The BAEP was elicited by using auditory stimulus by using Dantec Evomatic 4000 evoked potential machine. The latency of component response recored as waves I, III and V, interpeak latency (IPLs) I - III, I - V, III - V and amplitude of waves V. RESULTS: The difference was highly significant in the increased latency of waves I, III and V, interpeak latency (IPLs) I - III, I - V, III - V and amplitude of waves V of each type of diabetes as compared to control. Comparison of the type and duration of diabetes between each other showed no significant difference. CONCLUSION: BAEP recording can represent an objective, clinically useful and non invasive procedure to stress the early impairment both of the auditory nerve and of brainstem function.