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Motor unit number estimations are smaller in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus: A case–cohort study
Author(s) -
Toth Cory,
Hebert Valerie,
Gougeon Claire,
Virtanen Heidi,
Mah Jean K.,
Pacaud Daniele
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
muscle and nerve
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.025
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 1097-4598
pISSN - 0148-639X
DOI - 10.1002/mus.24212
Subject(s) - subclinical infection , medicine , cohort , electrophysiology , diabetes mellitus , motor unit , demographics , pediatrics , endocrinology , anatomy , demography , sociology
: We studied the potential for motor unit number estimation (MUNE) to detect subclinical changes in motor unit numbers in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM). Methods : Blinded observers performed clinical assessment, electrophysiology, and multipoint MUNE of the extensor digitorum brevis muscle in children with DM for ≥5 years and age‐matched healthy controls. Results : For 51 DM subjects, the disease duration was 9.1 ± 2.6 years. Subjects with DM and healthy controls ( n = 21) had similar demographics. There were no clinical symptoms or signs of peripheral neuropathy in any subject, nor differences in standard electrophysiology between cohorts. Estimated motor unit numbers were decreased significantly in children with DM (224 ± 87 vs. 274 ± 101, P = 0.036). Conclusion : Despite the absence of clinical or standard electrophysiological differences from normal control subjects, MUNE can detect a small significant difference in children with DM, suggesting that motor unit loss begins early and subclinically in the disease. Muscle Nerve 50: 593–598, 2014