Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Latent autoimmune diabetes of the adults (LADA) is a heterogeneous type of diabetes sharing clinical characteristics of type 2 DM and serum markers of pancreatic autoimmunity detected in type 1 DM. It accounts for 2-12% of all patients with diabetes. The aim of our study is to identify the association between LADA and other systemic or organ-specific autoimmune diseases.

Materials and Methods: We conducted an observational study in the outpatient clinic of autoimmune endocrinopathies of the Department of Pathophysiology at Laikon University Hospital. All patients were positive for GAD antibodies. They were also evaluated for TPOAbs, TGAbs, APCA, ANA and clinical information for other systemic autoimmune diseases were obtained from their medical record. Demographic data and clinical characteristics regarding the age of LADA onset, duration of LADA, time span not requiring insulin treatment, BMI, metabolic syndrome and chronic related diabetic complications were also collected. Laboratory tests for FPG, basal c-peptide and insulin, HbA1c were performed.

Results: A total of 24 patients were analyzed. Mean age was 55.5±13.4 years, 91.7% of them were females and 33.3% were smokers. Mean BMI was 22.9±3.8 kg/m², HbA1c at diagnosis was 8.65±1.7%, mean c-peptide=0.49±0.59 ng/ml and mean anti-GAD titer= 80.3±7.8 IU/ml. 22.7% had metabolic syndrome and 17.39% presented with chronic LADA related complications. Autoimmune gastritis with positive APCA antibodies was present in 31.25% of the patients and thyroid autoimmunity with positive TgAbs and/or TPOAbs in 50%. Moreover, ANA were positive in 41.6% of our patients. There is a statistical significance among LADA and thyroid autoimmunity, autoimmune gastritis and other autoimmunities (P=0.0000073, P=0.0000074 and P= 0.00049, respectively).

Conclusion: In our study we demonstrated a statistical significant association between LADA and thyroid autoimmunities, autoimmune gastritis and other systemic or organ specific autoimmune diseases.