Electrogastrography abnormalities appear early in children with diabetes type 1

• Published in: European journal of gastroenterology & hepatology Vol. 23; no. 10; p. 881
• Main Authors: Posfay-Barbe, Klara M, Lindley, Keith J, Schwitzgebel, Valérie M, Belli, Dominique C, Schäppi, Michela G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.10.2011
• Subjects: Adolescent; Blood Glucose - metabolism; Body Mass Index; Case-Control Studies; Child; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 - blood; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 - complications; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 - physiopathology; Electromyography - methods; Fasting - blood; Fasting - physiology; Female; Fructosamine - blood; Gastric Emptying - physiology; Glycated Hemoglobin A - metabolism; Humans; Hyperglycemia - blood; Hyperglycemia - etiology; Hyperglycemia - physiopathology; Male; Radiography; Stomach - diagnostic imaging; Stomach - physiopathology
• ISSN: 1473-5687
• DOI: 10.1097/MEG.0b013e32834967b6

The objective of the study was to evaluate gastric myoelectrical activity in young patients with diabetes and to correlate it with their metabolic control [fasting blood glucose, glycosylated haemoglobin, and fructosamine] and BMI during a 3 years follow-up. Surface electrogastrography (EGG) was performed on 49 children with diabetes aged 10.3±4.4 (mean±SD) years and 17 age-matched healthy controls after fasting glucose, glycosylated haemoglobin, and fructosamine were measured. EGG parameters [percentage of bradygastria, 3 cycles per minute, tachygastria, dominant frequency instability coefficient, and power ratio] were analysed and compared with blood analysis. Patients with diabetes exhibited an increase in preprandial bradygastria 7.9±8.8 cpm (mean±SD) compared with controls 2.1±1.0 (P=0.011), with an associated decrease in preprandial normogastria (72.2±14.5 vs. 82.7±14.7; P=0.013). Normogastric power ratio (postprandial/ preprandial power) was significantly increased in the children with diabetes compared with controls (mean: 6.67 vs. 3.14, P=0.034). A longer duration of diabetes was associated with an increased risk of EGG abnormalities (P=0.036). Marked hyperglycaemia at the time of study was associated with postprandial bradygastria (P=0.01) and power ratio bradygastria (P=0.042). Changes in glycosylated haemoglobin, fructosamine and BMI did not affect EGG parameters. EGG abnormalities, presented early in a high proportion of diabetic children, are related to the acute hyperglycaemia. These abnormalities are not consistently present in the follow-up studies and not related to the glycosylated haemoglobin and fructosamine. Diabetic autonomic neuropathy is therefore an unlikely pathogenic factor for EGG abnormalities in children with diabetes.