Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes 2019; 127(10): 672-676
DOI: 10.1055/a-0972-0957
Article
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Central Corneal Thickness can be Related to Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy in Children with Type 1 Diabetes

Krzysztof Jeziorny
1   Department of Pediatrics, Diabetology, Endocrinology and Nephrology, Medical University of Lodz, Poland
,
Michal Fila
2   Clinical Neurophysiology Unit, Department of Neurology, Polish Mother’s Memorial Hospital – Research Institute, Lodz, Poland
,
Aleksandra Pyziak-Skupien
3   Department of Pediatrics, Silesian Medical University in Katowice, Poland
,
Magdalena Kolodziej
4   Department of Practical Obstetrics, Medical University of Lodz, Poland
,
Arleta Waszczykowska
5   Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Rehabilitation, Medical University of Lodz, Poland
,
Ewa Zmyslowska-Polakowska
6   Department of Endodontics, Medical University of Lodz, Poland
,
Agnieszka Szadkowska
1   Department of Pediatrics, Diabetology, Endocrinology and Nephrology, Medical University of Lodz, Poland
,
Wojciech Mlynarski
7   Department of Pediatrics, Oncology and Haematology, Medical University of Lodz, Poland
,
Agnieszka Zmyslowska
1   Department of Pediatrics, Diabetology, Endocrinology and Nephrology, Medical University of Lodz, Poland
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 08 April 2019
revised 25 June 2019

accepted 09 July 2019

Publication Date:
14 August 2019 (online)

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Abstract

Aims Diabetic eye disease with its various manifestations as well as diabetic neuropathy may occur in patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) after several years of diabetes duration. Pachymetry is a promising method evaluating central corneal thickness (CCT) in diabetic patients. The aim of the study was to evaluate the CCT values in children with T1D and its relationship to neurophysiological markers of diabetic neuropathy.

Methods The study groups included 119 T1D children with average 5.3 years of diabetes duration and 38 age-matched controls. CCT index was measured with pachymeter in all subjects and in 19/119 of T1D patients the CCT values were referred to the ENG-EMG-SSR study results.

Results In T1D patients the higher CCT values were observed as compared to healthy controls (p=0.037). Correlations between CCT values and both distal latency of the motor fibers of the median nerve (R=0.51; p=0.044) and conduction velocity of this nerve (R=−0.55; p=0.027) were noted. A conduction velocity of the sensory fibers of sural nerve correlated negatively with CCT index (R=−0.50; p=0.045) in the T1D patients.

Conclusions CCT measurement may be helpful in the referral of the asymptomatic pediatric T1D patients to assess an early stage of diabetic neuropathy.