Lung function abnormalities in children with type I diabetes

Recent developments in intrabronchial administration of insulin raise lung function in patients with type I diabetes as important issue. Several studies in adults report abnormalities of lung function of these patients, The aim of this study was to investigate lung function in children with type I diabetes. Twenty-seven children with type I diabetes performed measurement of airway obstruction (forced flow-volume curves), lung volumes and airway resistance (bodyplethysmography) and of pulmonary carbon monoxide diffusion capacity. Mean age (+/-SD) of the children was 12.8 +/- 5 years. Mean time between the detection of type I diabetes and the lung function tests was 5.5 years with a variation from I to 17 years. The total airway resistance (Raw) was significantly higher compared to the reference values (P < 0.001). The other lung function parameters were not significantly different from reference values (P > 0.05). In this relatively small study no relationship between lung function abnormalities and age, the duration of disease or level of HbA(1c) was observed. Our data show that increase of airway resistance do occur in children with type I diabetes, Progressive abnormalities in lung function might interfere with the promising results of treatment with intrabronchial administration of insulin. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.