Study on brainstem auditory evoked potentials in diabetes mellitus

OBJECTIVE: To determine the changes of brain stem auditory evoked potential (BAEP) in diabetes mellitus (DM).

METHODS: 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%).

RESULTS: 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.

CONCLUSION: Subjects with DM have abnormalities in BAEP, and for evaluation of defects of the brainstem in diabetic patients usage of BAEP is recommended.