Motor unit number estimations are smaller in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus: A case-cohort study.
INTRODUCTION
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.
['Toth|Cory|C|', 'Hebert|Valerie|V|', 'Gougeon|Claire|C|', 'Virtanen|Heidi|H|', 'Mah|Jean K|JK|', 'Pacaud|Daniele|D|']
D000200:Action Potentials D000293:Adolescent D016022:Case-Control Studies D002648:Child D015331:Cohort Studies D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 D004576:Electromyography D005260:Female D006801:Humans D008297:Male D009046:Motor Neurons D018482:Muscle, Skeletal D010525:Peripheral Nerves D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases D012044:Regression Analysis
motor unit number estimation diabetes mellitus electrophysiology peripheral neuropathy juvenile diabetes mellitus