title: Progress in the characterization of slowly progressive autoimmune diabetes in adult patients (LADA or type 1.5 diabetes).
abstract: LADA or type 1.5 diabetes is a slowly progressive form of autoimmune diabetes of adults and represents a considerable proportion (about 5-10%) of all diabetic patients. Associations with high risk HLA genotypes and autoimmune phenomena (GAD, IA2, ICA) show similarities with type 1 diabetes, but phenotypical characteristics of these patients do not allow the correct identification without screening of GAD antibodies. The relatively low antibody titers against islet-cell antigens in LADA patients may be sign of a less aggressive form of autoimmune diabetes and could be responsible for the long non-insulin requirement phase of this diabetes type. Similar as in prediabetic relatives of type 1 diabetic patients the risk for beta cell failure in adult "type 2 diabetic" patients increases with the number of antibodies positive. Consequently, low titers of GAD--in particular in elderly patients--do not predict a progressive and rapid loss of beta-cell failure, when associations with high risk genotypes or other islet-cell antibodies are lacking. Patients with LADA share insulin resistance with type 2 diabetic patients, but display a more severe defect in stimulated beta-cell capacity than patients with classical type 2 diabetes. With respect to features of the metabolic syndrome, patients with LADA have lower BMI, blood pressure and triglyceride levels compared with classical type 2 diabetes patients. Early identification of LADA patients will be mandatory, when effective immune interventions are available for prevention of the beta-cell destructive process and insulin requirement of these patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine I and Department of Nuclear Medicine, Rudolfstiftung Hospital Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schernthaner
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hink
authors.forename: H P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Kopp
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Muzyka
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Streit
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kroiss
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D018450:Disease Progression; D014943:Global Health; D006801:Humans; D013997:Time Factors