Ketoacidosis at diagnosis of type 1 diabetes in children in northern Finland: temporal changes over 20 years

Variation between countries in the frequency of diabetic ketoacidosis at first presentation of type 1 diabetes in children: a systematic review

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS

Type 1 diabetes is the most frequent endocrine disease in children, with 65,000 children diagnosed worldwide every year. Up to 80% of these children present with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), which is associated with both short-term risks and long-term consequences. This study aimed to characterise the worldwide variation in presentation of type 1 diabetes to inform future interventions to reduce this excess morbidity and mortality.

METHODS

This was a systematic review of studies indexed on PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Scopus or CINAHL before March 2011 that included unselected groups of children presenting with new-onset type 1 diabetes, reported the proportion presenting with DKA and used a definition of DKA based on measurement of pH or bicarbonate.

RESULTS

Sixty-five studies of cohorts comprising over 29,000 children in 31 countries were included. The frequency of DKA at diagnosis ranged from 12.8% to 80%, with highest frequencies in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Romania, and the lowest in Sweden, the Slovak Republic and Canada. Multivariable modelling showed the frequency of DKA was inversely associated with gross domestic product, latitude and background incidence of type 1 diabetes.

CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION

This is the first description of the variation in frequency of DKA at presentation of type 1 diabetes in children across countries. It demonstrates large variations that may, at least in part, be explained by different levels of disease awareness and healthcare provision and suggests ways to decrease the excess morbidity and mortality associated with DKA at diagnosis.

Current concepts and controversies in prevention and treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis in children

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is caused by absolute or relative lack of insulin. Lack of insulin leads to hyperglycemia, ketonemia, and acidosis. Prevalence of DKA at diagnosis of type 1 diabetes (T1D) varies around the world from 18 % to 84 %. Incidence of recurrent DKA is higher among females, insulin pump users, those with a history of psychiatric or eating disorder, and suboptimal socioeconomic circumstances. DKA is the most common cause of death in children with T1D. Children with DKA should be treated in experienced centers. Initial bolus of 10-20 mL/kg 0.9 % saline is followed by 0.45 %-0.9 % saline infusion. Fluid infusion should precede insulin administration (0.1 U/kg/h) by 1-2 hours. The prevention of DKA at diagnosis of diabetes can be achieved by an intensive community intervention and education of health care providers to raise awareness. Prevention of recurrent DKA requires continuous patient education and access to diabetes programs and telephone services.

Temporal changes in the diagnosis of type 1 diabetes by diabetic ketoacidosis in Brazil: a nationwide survey

AIMS

To examine the temporal trends in the frequency of diabetic ketoacidosis at onset compared to other modalities of diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes in Brazil.

METHODS

This was a retrospective, cross-sectional and multicenter study conducted between December 2008 and December 2010 in 28 public clinics at secondary and tertiary levels of care, located in 20 cities in four geographic regions of Brazil. Each clinic provided data extracted from at least 50 outpatients with Type 1 diabetes diagnosed between 1960 and 2010, using standardized chart review forms. Data were obtained from 3591 patients (56.0% females, 57.1% Caucasians). Median values (range) for age, age at diagnosis and duration of diabetes were, respectively, 19 years (1-66 years), 10 years (< 1-44 years) and 7 years (< 1-50 years). Logistic regression was performed with diabetic ketoacidosis (Yes/No) as the dependent variable and other clinical features as independent variables.

RESULTS

Type 1 diabetes diagnosis was made by diabetic ketoacidosis in 1,520 (42.3%), by fasting plasma glucose in 1413 (39.4%), by random blood glucose in 516 (14.4%), by oral glucose tolerance test in 66 (1.8%) and by other methods in 76 (2.1%) cases, respectively. Diagnosis made before the year 2000 had a greater odds to occur by diabetic ketoacidosis (Odds ratio 1.26, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 1.09-1.48). Since then, a decrease has occurred. Economic status, geographic region and age were significantly related to diabetic ketoacidosis at diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Although high prevalence of diabetic ketoacidosis at diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes in Brazil is observed, recently, more patients have been diagnosed by other methods.

Decrease in frequency of ketoacidosis at diabetes onset over the past two decades - perspectives of a paediatric tertiary care centre

AIMS

To determine whether the frequency and severity of diabetic ketoacidosis and the clinical characteristics of children at diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes mellitus have changed over the past decades among patients under surveillance of a tertiary paediatric centre.

METHODS

In three time-periods, 75 (1986-1987), 86 (1996-1997) and 245 (2006-2007) patients at mean age 10.1 ± 4.7 years (0.6-20.0) were diagnosed with new-onset Type 1 diabetes. Data on clinical characteristics and laboratory evaluation at diagnosis retrieved from the patients' files . Comparative analysis was performed between the three time periods.

RESULTS

The frequency of diabetic ketoacidosis at diagnosis was 40% in 1986-1987, 41.8% in 1996-1997 and 29.4% in 2006-2007; the last rate was significantly lower (P=0.04). No significant differences in the proportions of patients with severe or moderate diabetic ketoacidosis were found over time. Mean weight standard deviation score significantly increased from -0.72 ± 1.8 in 1986-1987 to -0.27 ± 1.2 in 2006-2007 (P<0.05), while percentage weight loss (∼6.5%) before diagnosis remained unchanged. In 2006-2007 a higher proportion of children had glucose testing at the community clinic before diagnosis, than in the earlier years (73.1 vs. 59.6%, P=0.003).

CONCLUSIONS

The overall frequency of diabetic ketoacidosis in children with newly diagnosed Type 1 diabetes has decreased in the past decade, although the degree of metabolic decompensation has remained unchanged.

Markedly reduced rate of diabetic ketoacidosis at onset of type 1 diabetes in relatives screened for islet autoantibodies

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether screening for islet autoantibodies in children prevents ketoacidosis and other metabolic complications at diabetes onset and improves the clinical course after diagnosis.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

The German BABYDIAB and the Munich Family Study follow children with a first-degree family history of type 1 diabetes for the development of islet autoantibodies and type 1 diabetes. The Diabetes Prospective Documentation (DPV) Initiative registers and collects information on pediatric patients with type 1 diabetes throughout Germany. Here, clinical characteristics at diabetes onset [ketoacidosis, mean hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), and length of hospitalization] and the 5-yr clinical course (HbA1c and insulin dose) of screened and followed islet autoantibody-positive children (n = 101) and 49 883 non-screened children within the DPV registry were compared.

RESULTS

At diabetes onset, children who were followed after screening and were positive for islet autoantibodies had lower HbA1c (8.6 vs. 11%, p < 0.001) and a lower prevalence of diabetic ketoacidosis (3.3 vs. 29.1%, p < 0.001). Screened children also had a shorter hospitalization period at onset (11.4 vs. 14.9 d, p = 0.005). Similar results were observed when the analysis was restricted to 759 non-screened DPV children with a first-degree family history of type 1 diabetes. No differences between screened and non-screened children were observed with respect to HbA1c and insulin dose during the first 5 yr after diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Screening for islet autoantibodies in children likely leads to earlier diabetes diagnosis resulting in less complications at diagnosis. However, no substantial benefit in the clinical outcome during the first 5 yr after diagnosis was observed.

Reduced prevalence of diabetic ketoacidosis at diagnosis of type 1 diabetes in young children participating in longitudinal follow-up

OBJECTIVE

Young children have an unacceptably high prevalence of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) at the clinical diagnosis of type 1 diabetes. The aim of this study was to determine whether knowledge of genetic risk and close follow-up for development of islet autoantibodies through participation in The Environmental Determinants of Diabetes in the Young (TEDDY) study results in lower prevalence of DKA at diabetes onset in children aged <2 and <5 years compared with population-based incidence studies and registries.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Symptoms and laboratory data collected on TEDDY participants diagnosed with type 1 diabetes between 2004 and 2010 were compared with data collected during the similar periods from studies and registries in all TEDDY-participating countries (U.S., SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth Study; Sweden, Swediabkids; Finland, Finnish Pediatric Diabetes Register; and Germany, Diabetes Patienten Verlaufsdokumenation [DPV] Register).

RESULTS

A total of 40 children younger than age 2 years and 79 children younger than age 5 years were diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in TEDDY as of December 2010. In children <2 years of age at onset, DKA prevalence in TEDDY participants was significantly lower than in all comparative registries (German DPV Register, P < 0.0001; Swediabkids, P = 0.02; SEARCH, P < 0.0001; Finnish Register, P < 0.0001). The prevalence of DKA in TEDDY children diagnosed at <5 years of age (13.1%) was significantly lower compared with SEARCH (36.4%) (P < 0.0001) and the German DPV Register (32.2%) (P < 0.0001) but not compared with Swediabkids or the Finnish Register.

CONCLUSIONS

Participation in the TEDDY study is associated with reduced risk of DKA at diagnosis of type 1 diabetes in young children.

Family history of diabetes and distribution of class II HLA genotypes in children with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes: effect on diabetic ketoacidosis

OBJECTIVE

Our purpose was to assess whether family history of diabetes or the HLA-DR-DQ genotype of the index case was associated with the frequency of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) at diagnosis of childhood type 1 diabetes.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The study cohort comprised 1518 children aged <15 years and diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in Finland in 2002-2005. Family history of type 1 and type 2 diabetes among first-degree relatives (FDRs) and grandparents was assessed at diagnosis. HLA-DR-DQ genotypes were analysed using time-resolved fluorometry.

RESULTS

In total, 12.6 and 1.7% of children had at least one FDR affected with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, respectively, and 6.6 and 34.8% had at least one grandparent with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. DKA (pH <7.30) occurred less frequently in children having a type 1 diabetes affected FDR (7.4 vs 20.5%, P<0.001). Type 2 diabetes among the parents or grandparents had no such effect. Lower risk HLA genotypes were observed to predispose to DKA (P<0.024). In a logistic regression analysis, the risk of DKA was independently associated with the absence of a family member affected by type 1 diabetes, the presence of a low-risk HLA genotype and older age at diagnosis (odds ratio 3.23, 1.45 and 1.07 respectively).

CONCLUSION

The presence of type 1 diabetes in an FDR is associated with an decreased risk of DKA at diagnosis. The rate of DKA seems to be higher in children with lower HLA-conferred risk for type 1 diabetes.

Factors associated with the presence of diabetic ketoacidosis at diagnosis of diabetes in children and young adults: a systematic review

OBJECTIVE

To identify the factors associated with diabetic ketoacidosis at diagnosis of type 1 diabetes in children and young adults.

DESIGN

Systematic review.

DATA SOURCES

PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Scopus, and Cinahl and article reference lists.

STUDY SELECTION

Cohort studies including unselected groups of children and young adults presenting with new onset type 1 diabetes that distinguished between those who presented in diabetic ketoacidosis and those who did not and included a measurement of either pH or bicarbonate in the definition of diabetic ketoacidosis. There were no restrictions on language of publication.

RESULTS

46 studies involving more than 24,000 children in 31 countries were included. Together they compared 23 different factors. Factors associated with increased risk were younger age (for <2 years old v older, odds ratio 3.41 (95% confidence interval 2.54 to 4.59), for <5 years v older, odds ratio 1.59 (1.38 to 1.84)), diagnostic error (odds ratio 3.35 (2.35 to 4.79)), ethnic minority, lack of health insurance in the US (odds ratio 3.20 (2.03 to 5.04)), lower body mass index, preceding infection (odds ratio 3.14 (0.94 to 10.47)), and delayed treatment (odds ratio 1.74 (1.10 to 2.77)). Protective factors were having a first degree relative with type 1 diabetes at the time of diagnosis (odds ratio 0.33 (0.08 to 1.26)), higher parental education (odds ratios 0.4 (0.20 to 0.79) and 0.64 (0.43 to 0.94) in two studies), and higher background incidence of type 1 diabetes (correlation coefficient -0.715). The mean duration of symptoms was similar between children presenting with or without diabetic ketoacidosis (16.5 days (standard error 6.2) and 17.1 days (6.0) respectively), and up to 38.8% (285/735) of children who presented with diabetic ketoacidosis had been seen at least once by a doctor before diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Multiple factors affect the risk of developing diabetic ketoacidosis at the onset of type 1 diabetes in children and young adults, and there is potential time, scope, and opportunity to intervene between symptom onset and development of diabetic ketoacidosis for both parents and clinicians.

Clinical characteristics at presentation of type 1 diabetes mellitus in children younger than 15 years in Croatia

The aim of the study was to determine the clinical and biochemical characteristics of type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) at presentation in children younger than 15 years in Croatia during a 9-year period, with special attention to diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) incidence. The registered data set comprised blood glucose, pH, serum bicarbonate levels, and clinical symptoms at disease manifestation. During the study period, 692 children were diagnosed with type 1 DM. Polydipsia (96.7%), polyuria (96.05%), and weight loss (82.7%) were the most frequent symptoms anticipating disease detection. Enuresis was recorded in 11.55%. A total of 36.41% patients had DKA (pH < 7.3) at disease onset. During the 9-year period, the percentage of children presenting with DKA at time of diagnosis decreased from 41.67% to 33.33% (z = 1.68, p = 0.046). A positive family history of DM, the only factor with an impact on the DKA incidence rate in our population, lowers the probability of the development of ketoacidosis. This study confirms the importance of the detection of the classic symptoms of polyuria, polydipsia, and weight loss in patients with new-onset type 1 DM. The percentage of patients with DKA at diabetes onset decreased during the observed period but is still high and includes one-third of all patients. This is why in every acutely ill child, especially at a younger age, one should evaluate the possibility of type 1 DM to avoid the development of ketoacidosis.

Medical expenditures associated with diabetes acute complications in privately insured U.S. youth

OBJECTIVE

To estimate medical expenditures attributable to diabetes ketoacidosis (DKA) and severe hypoglycemia among privately insured insulin-treated U.S. youth with diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

We analyzed the insurance claims of 7,556 youth, age ≤ 19 years, with insulin-treated diabetes. The youth were continuously enrolled in fee-for-service health plans, and claims were obtained from the 2007 U.S. MarketScan Commercial Claims and Encounter database. We used regression models to estimate total medical expenditures and their subcomponents: outpatient, inpatient, and drug expenditures. The excess expenditures associated with DKA and severe hypoglycemia were estimated as the difference between predicted medical expenditures for youth who did/did not experience either DKA or severe hypoglycemia.

RESULTS

For youth with and without DKA, respectively, predicted mean annual total medical expenditures were $14,236 and $8,398 (an excess of $5,837 for those with DKA). The excess was statistically greater for those with one or more episodes of DKA ($8,455) than among those with only one episode ($3,554). Predicted mean annual total medical expenditures were $12,850 and $8,970 for youth with and without severe hypoglycemia, respectively (an excess of $3,880 for those with severe hypoglycemia). The excess was greater among those with one or more episodes ($5,929) than among those with only one ($2,888).

CONCLUSIONS

Medical expenditures for potentially preventable DKA and severe hypoglycemia in U.S. youth with insulin-treated diabetes are substantial. Improving the quality of care for these youth to prevent the development of these two complications could avert substantial U.S. health care expenditures.

Ketoacidosis at presentation of type 1 diabetes in children in Kuwait: frequency and clinical characteristics

BACKGROUND

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) has significant morbidity and mortality, and is common at diagnosis in children.

OBJECTIVE

Describe the frequency and severity of DKA at diagnosis of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) in children in Kuwait.

METHODS

Hospital records of 677 diabetic children less than 12 yr of age, diagnosed during the period of 2000-2006 were reviewed. DKA was defined as blood glucose > 11 mmol/L, pH < 7.3, and/or bicarbonate < 15 mmol/L with ketonuria.

RESULTS

Of all patients diagnosed with T1DM, 255 (37.7%) presented with DKA. The frequency of DKA was constant between 2000 and 2002 (42.7-41.5%), but decreased in the following years to 30.7% in 2006 (p < 0.005). The majority had either mild or moderate DKA (74.1%). Fifty-one (36.7%) of all children in the 0-4 yr had severe DKA compared to ten (2.9%) in the 5- to 8-yr-old group, and three (1.5%) in 9- to 12-yr-old patients (p < 0.0001). Moreover, 83% of children with severe DKA were in the 0-4 yr age group. One child (0.15%) died and twenty-seven (4%) needed intensive care unit (ICU) care.

CONCLUSION

Our study provides recent data on Middle Eastern population, for whom data are sparse. Although it has significantly decreased, the frequency of DKA at presentation of T1DM in children in Kuwait is still high, secondary to the high prevalence of diabetes in the community. Young children, especially those less than 2 yr old remain at high risk. Increasing the general awareness of the public as well as of pediatricians to the disease may lead to early diagnosis before the development of acidosis.

Age-related differences in the frequency of ketoacidosis at diagnosis of type 1 diabetes in children and adolescents

OBJECTIVE

We studied the prevalence of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) at diagnosis of type 1 diabetes in children in Finland.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

From 2002 to 2005, data on virtually all children <15 years of age diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (n = 1,656) in Finland were collected.

RESULTS

DKA was present in 19.4% of the case subjects, and 4.3% had severe DKA. In children aged 0-4, 5-9, and 10-14 years, DKA was present in 16.5, 14.8, and 26.4%, respectively (P < 0.001). Severe DKA occurred in 3.7, 3.1, and 5.9%, respectively (P = 0.048). DKA was present in 30.1% and severe DKA in 7.8% of children aged <2 years.

CONCLUSION

The overall frequency of DKA in children is low in Finland at diagnosis of type 1 diabetes. However, both children <2 years of age and adolescents aged 10-14 years are at increased risk of DKA.

Diabetic ketoacidosis at diagnosis in Austrian children in 1989-2008: a population-based analysis

AIM

The aim of the study was to analyse the prevalence of diabetic onset ketoacidosis (DKA) during a period of 20 years (1989-2008) on a population basis in the whole of Austria.

METHODS

A prospective population-based incidence study (1989-2008) was performed. The registered data set comprised blood glucose, pH, ketonuria and clinical symptoms of DKA at manifestation. DKA was defined as pH < 7.3 and severe DKA as pH < 7.1. Time trends were estimated using linear regression models.

RESULTS

During the study period, 3331 children <15 years of age (1,797 boys and 1,534 girls) were registered with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes. Of these, 1,238 (37.2%) presented with DKA, 855 (25.7%) had a mild and 383 (11.5%) a severe form, and one patient died at onset. DKA frequency was negatively associated with age at onset (p < 0.0001). In children <2 years the prevalence was 60%, with a higher risk for girls (70% vs 54% for boys, p < 0.05). Despite a significant increase in diabetes incidence in Austria during the observation period from 8.4 to 18.4/100,000 (p < 0.0001), no significant change in the prevalence of DKA at manifestation was observed.

CONCLUSIONS

The overall frequency of DKA in children with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes in Austria is high and has not changed during the last 20 years despite a clear increase in the manifestation rate. In particular, children less than 2 years of age have a high risk of DKA at onset.

The geoepidemiology of type 1 diabetes

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by absolute insulin deficiency resulting from the progressive immune-mediated destruction of pancreatic islet beta cells. It is thought to be triggered by as yet unidentified environmental factors in genetically susceptible individuals, the major genetic contribution coming from loci within the HLA complex, in particular HLA class II. The worldwide incidence of T1D varies by at least 100-fold, being highest in Finland and Sardinia (Italy) and lowest in Venezuela and China. The incidence has been increasing worldwide at an annual rate of approximately 3%. While genetic factors are thought to explain some of the geographic variability in T1D occurrence, they cannot account for its rapidly increasing frequency. Instead, the declining proportion of newly diagnosed children with high-risk genotypes suggests that environmental pressures are now able to trigger T1D in genotypes that previously would not have developed the disease during childhood. Although comparisons between countries and regions with low and high-incidence rates have suggested that higher socioeconomic status and degree of urbanization are among the environmental factors that play a role in the rising incidence of T1D, the findings are too inconsistent to allow firm conclusions. Morbidity and mortality as well as causes of death also show considerable geographic variation. While glycemic control has been identified as a major predictor of the micro- and macrovascular complications of T1D and shows considerable geographical variability, it does not appear to be the only factor involved in the regional differences in complication rates. The role of genetics in susceptibility to nephropathy, retinopathy and other diabetic complications largely remains to be explored.

Difficulties or mistakes in diagnosing type 1 diabetes in children?--demographic factors influencing delayed diagnosis

BACKGROUND

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) development in children with new-onset type 1 diabetes (T1DM) is often the main consequence of delayed diagnosis. The aim of the study was to estimate the frequency of difficulties in T1DM diagnosis and to investigate if and how the demographic factors (gender, patient's age at presentation, family history of T1DM, level of maternal education, place of residence, and health service unit the patient called at) have any influence on diagnostic delays.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Retrospective analysis of 474 children (243 boys-51.27% and 231 girls -48.73%) with new-onset T1DM aged below 17 yr and living in the Pomeranian region of Poland was carried out. The delay in diagnosis was recognized if the patient was not diagnosed on the first visit because of omission, wrong interpretation of main diabetic symptoms, exclusive treatment of additional signs, or concomitant diseases.

RESULTS

Difficulties in diagnosing T1DM were found in 67 cases (14.13%) and they are the main cause of DKA development in these children (p = 0.00). Among the examined demographic factors, mainly the patient's age at presentation has a significant influence on diagnostic delays (p = 0.01), especially in children below 2 yr (p = 0.00). Most frequently family doctors were responsible for wrong preliminary diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Difficulties in diagnosing T1DM are a significant cause of DKA development in children with new-onset disease. Patient's age at presentation is the main risk factor of delayed diagnosis, especially in children below 2 yr. The increase in awareness among pediatricians concerning the possibility of T1DM development in children is needed.

Nasal insulin to prevent type 1 diabetes in children with HLA genotypes and autoantibodies conferring increased risk of disease: a double-blind, randomised controlled trial

BACKGROUND

In mouse models of diabetes, prophylactic administration of insulin reduced incidence of the disease. We investigated whether administration of nasal insulin decreased the incidence of type 1 diabetes, in children with HLA genotypes and autoantibodies increasing the risk of the disease.

METHODS

At three university hospitals in Turku, Oulu, and Tampere (Finland), we analysed cord blood samples of 116 720 consecutively born infants, and 3430 of their siblings, for the HLA-DQB1 susceptibility alleles for type 1 diabetes. 17 397 infants and 1613 siblings had increased genetic risk, of whom 11 225 and 1574, respectively, consented to screening of diabetes-associated autoantibodies at every 3-12 months. In a double-blind trial, we randomly assigned 224 infants and 40 siblings positive for two or more autoantibodies, in consecutive samples, to receive short-acting human insulin (1 unit/kg; n=115 and n=22) or placebo (n=109 and n=18) once a day intranasally. We used a restricted randomisation, stratified by site, with permuted blocks of size two. Primary endpoint was diagnosis of diabetes. Analysis was by intention to treat. The study was terminated early because insulin had no beneficial effect. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00223613.

FINDINGS

Median duration of the intervention was 1.8 years (range 0-9.7). Diabetes was diagnosed in 49 index children randomised to receive insulin, and in 47 randomised to placebo (hazard ratio [HR] 1.14; 95% CI 0.73-1.77). 42 and 38 of these children, respectively, continued treatment until diagnosis, with yearly rates of diabetes onset of 16.8% (95% CI 11.7-21.9) and 15.3% (10.5-20.2). Seven siblings were diagnosed with diabetes in the insulin group, versus six in the placebo group (HR 1.93; 0.56-6.77). In all randomised children, diabetes was diagnosed in 56 in the insulin group, and 53 in the placebo group (HR 0.98; 0.67-1.43, p=0.91).

INTERPRETATION

In children with HLA-conferred susceptibility to diabetes, administration of nasal insulin, started soon after detection of autoantibodies, could not be shown to prevent or delay type 1 diabetes.

Association of IL-1ra and adiponectin with C-peptide and remission in patients with type 1 diabetes

OBJECTIVE

We investigated the association of anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra), adiponectin, proinflammatory cytokines IL-1 beta, IL-6, and CCL2, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha with beta-cell function, metabolic status, and clinical remission in patients with recent-onset type 1 diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Serum was obtained from 256 newly diagnosed patients (122 males and 134 females, median age 9.6 years). Stimulated C-peptide, blood glucose, and A1C were determined in addition to circulating concentration of cytokines at 1, 6, and 12 months after diagnosis. Analyses were adjusted for sex, age, and BMI percentile.

RESULTS

Anti-inflammatory IL-1ra was positively associated with C-peptide after 6 (P = 0.0009) and 12 (P = 0.009) months. The beneficial association of IL-1ra on beta-cell function was complemented by the negative association of IL-1 beta with C-peptide after 1 month (P = 0.009). In contrast, anti-inflammatory adiponectin was elevated in patients with poor metabolic control after 6 and 12 months (P < 0.05) and positively correlated with A1C after 1 month (P = 0.0004). Proinflammatory IL-6 was elevated in patients with good metabolic control after 1 month (P = 0.009) and showed a positive association with blood glucose disposal after 12 months (P = 0.047).

CONCLUSIONS

IL-1ra is associated with preserved beta-cell capacity in type 1 diabetes. This novel finding indicates that administration of IL-1ra, successfully improving beta-cell function in type 2 diabetes, may also be a new therapeutic approach in type 1 diabetes. The relation of adiponectin and IL-6 with remission and metabolic status transfers observations from in vitro and animal models into the human situation in vivo.