DISSEMINATED INTRAVASCULAR COAGULATION AND SEVERE PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY COMPLICATING KETOACIDOSIS IN A NEWLY-DIAGNOSED DIABETIC CHILD

Disseminated intravascular coagulation is a very rare complication of diabetic ketoacidosis. Central nervous system palsy but not peripheral neuropathy has been reported in these patients. On the other hand, si gns of peripheral neuropathy may also be present at the onset of diabe tes, but they are usually reversible within a few days after correctio n of the metabolic derangement. We describe an unusual case of mononeu ritis multiplex syndrome still present after 2 months of follow-up in a child with diabetic ketoacidosis complicated by disseminated intrava scular coagulation at the onset of insulin-dependent diabetes. These n eurological impairments may be consistent with functional neural lesio ns due to vasa nervorum thrombosis and prolonged ischaemia.