Study on brainstem auditory evoked potentials in diabetes mellitus

ABSTRACT

To determine the changes of brain stem auditory evoked potential [BAEP] in diabetes mellitus [DM]. In a case-control study, 50 diabetic subjects [54.2 +/- 9.9 years] and 69 healthy subjects [50.87 +/- 10.6 years] were selected in the Clinic of Neurology, Emam Reza Hospital, Tabriz, Iran, from April 2006 to July 2007. Diabetic subjects were classified according to type of diabetes [type I and II], fasting blood sugar [FBS] level [>130mg/dl] and glycosylated hemoglobin [HbA1C] [>7% and <7%]. In a comparison of 50 diabetic samples and 69 non-diabetic samples, there was no significant difference between BAEP findings with FBS level [p=0.683], HbA1C [p=0.151], and type of diabetes [p=0.496]. There was a meaningful association between latency of wave III [p=0.012], IV [p=0.023], V [p<0.0001], and interpeak latency of I-III [p=0.035] and III-V [p=0.003] in the diabetic and control group. Subjects with DM have abnormalities in BAEP, and for evaluation of defects of the brainstem in diabetic patients usage of BAEP is recommended