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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
medicine
Immunological and C-peptide studies of patients with diabetes in northern Ethiopia: Existence of an unusual subgroup possibly related to malnutrition
Diabetologia, Volume 54, No. 1, Year 2011
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Description
Aims/hypothesis: Surveys in northern Ethiopia have demonstrated that apparent type 1 diabetes occurs more frequently than elsewhere in Africa and, indeed, in other parts of the world. We therefore investigated in detail a cohort of diabetic patients from this region to clarify the nature of this type of diabetes. Methods: All patients attending the diabetic clinic at Mekelle Hospital in the Tigray region of northern Ethiopia were investigated over a 6 week period. Clinical, demographic and anthropometric data were collected, as well as measurements of HbA1c, fasting lipid profile, fasting serum C-peptide and serum markers of beta cell autoimmunity, i.e. islet antigen-2 and GAD antibodies (GADA). Results: Of 105 patients seen, 69 (66%) were on insulin treatment and had been from or close to diagnosis. Their median age and diabetes duration were 30 and 5 years, respectively, with a male excess of 2:1. Median BMI was 20.6 kg/m2. Despite these clinical characteristics suggestive of type 1 diabetes, only 42 of 69 (61%) patients were C-peptide-negative and 35% GADA-positive. Overall, 38 (36%) of the total group (n=105) had immunological or C-peptide characteristics inconsistent with typical type 1 or type 2 diabetes. The clinical characteristics, local prevalence of undernutrition, and GADA and C-peptide heterogeneity suggest a malnutrition-related form of diabetes. Conclusions/interpretation: Not all patients in northern Ethiopia with apparent type 1 diabetes appear to have the form of disease seen in Europids; their disease may, in fact, be related to malnutrition. © Springer-Verlag 2010.
Authors & Co-Authors
Gill, Geoffrey V.
United Kingdom, Liverpool
Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
United Kingdom, Liverpool
Aintree University Hospital
Tekle, A.
Ethiopia
Mekelle Hospital
Reja, Ahmed
Ethiopia, Addis Ababa
Black Lion Hospital
Wile, David B.
United Kingdom, Liverpool
Aintree University Hospital
English, Patrick J.
United Kingdom, Liverpool
Aintree University Hospital
Diver, M.
United Kingdom, Liverpool
Royal Liverpool University Hospital
Williams, Alistair J.K.
United Kingdom, Bristol
University of Bristol
Tesfaye, Solomon Hailemariam
United Kingdom, Sheffield
Royal Hallamshire Hospital
Statistics
Citations: 27
Authors: 8
Affiliations: 7
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1007/s00125-010-1921-7
ISSN:
0012186X
e-ISSN:
14320428
Research Areas
Food Security
Genetics And Genomics
Health System And Policy
Noncommunicable Diseases
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study
Cohort Study
Study Locations
Ethiopia
Participants Gender
Male