VEP and Psycomotor outcome in children of type1 diabetic mothers, 3 years after delivery.

Background: The exposure to diabetic environment during pregnancy may have negative effects on brain functions of the offspring. Evoked potentials are sensitive indexes of central nervous system function. Aim: to analyze maturation of Visual Evoked Potentials (VEPs) and psychomotor development during the first 3 years of life in Infants of type-1 Diabetic Mothers (IDMs). Materials and methods: VEPs and psychomotor development were assessed serially between 2 months and 3 years of age in 16 IDMs (11 females, 5 males). Latency and amplitude of VEPs were compared with data obtained from a matched control group of 23 healthy children of non-diabetic mothers.VEP recording: 1.Binocular stimulation (white light, intensity 0,3 Joule, repetition rate 2 Hz) 2.Responses were recorded according to the American Electroencephalografic Society guidelines with a bandpass of 1-100 Hz. At least two trials of 100 artefact-free responses were recorded within 512 ms after stimulus. 3.Peak latencies and peak-to-peak amplitudes of all components were measured but only the most stable components (III, IV, V) were used for statistical comparisons.