Metabolic and other morbid complications in congenital generalized lipodystrophy type 4

Morbidity and mortality rates in patients with autosomal recessive, congenital generalized lipodystrophy type 4 (CGL4), an ultra-rare disorder, remain unclear. We report on 30 females and 16 males from 10 countries with biallelic null variants in CAVIN1 gene (mean age, 12 years; range, 2 months to 41 years). Hypertriglyceridemia was seen in 79% (34/43), hepatic steatosis in 82% (27/33) but diabetes mellitus in only 21% (8/44). Myopathy with elevated serum creatine kinase levels (346-3325 IU/L) affected all of them (38/38). 39% had scoliosis (10/26) and 57% had atlantoaxial instability (8/14). Cardiac arrhythmias were detected in 57% (20/35) and 46% had ventricular tachycardia (16/35). Congenital pyloric stenosis was diagnosed in 39% (18/46), 9 had esophageal dysmotility and 19 had intestinal dysmotility. Four patients suffered from intestinal perforations. Seven patients died at mean age of 17 years (range: 2 months to 39 years). The cause of death in four patients was cardiac arrhythmia and sudden death, while others died of prematurity, gastrointestinal perforation, and infected foot ulcers leading to sepsis. Our study highlights high prevalence of myopathy, metabolic abnormalities, cardiac, and gastrointestinal problems in patients with CGL4. CGL4 patients are at high risk of early death mainly caused by cardiac arrhythmias.

Application of a Nanotechnology-Based, Point-of-Care Diagnostic Device in Diabetic Kidney Disease

Introduction

Early detection of diabetes mellitus (DM) and diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is important for preventing end-stage renal failure and reducing cardiovascular complications. Availability of a validated point-of-care (PoC) device that can measure various DKD markers would be useful in this respect, especially in resource-poor parts of the world.

Methods

We validated a novel nanotechnology-based multianalyte PoC device (minimally invasive and does not require trained medical personnel) against laboratory gold standard tests for the detection of 5 biomarkers related to management of DM and DKD. The prospective study was funded by an International Society of Nephrology American Nephrologists of Indian Origin grant in 2 phases: (i) proof of concept: random samples were tested for the analytes with the PoC device and correlated with the laboratory gold standard; and (ii) clinical validation in a well-characterized cohort of patients. A nonenzymatic- and nonantibody-based electrochemical PoC device for quantitative measurement of markers—glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA_1c), hemoglobin, serum albumin, microalbuminuria, urine creatinine, and albumin-to-creatinine ratio−was developed and used in this study. The disposable strips were interfaced with a multipotentiostat hand-held PoC device (3.7-V rechargeable lithium battery, 5-inch touch screen, Bluetooth enabled) working in amperometry mode, which provided the results in <1 minute. Data were analyzed using linearity plots and Bland-Altman difference plot analysis.

Results

A total of 4717 individuals were screened during the study (phase 1: 2576 and phase 2: 2141.) In phase 2, samples were tested in 529 subjects (346 females)—120 subjects with type 1 DM, 255 subjects with type 2 DM, 54 subjects without DM, 400 subjects with stage 2 chronic kidney disease, and 30 subjects with stage 3 chronic kidney disease.

Conclusion

A nanotechnology-based PoC device for quantitative measurement of HbA_1c, hemoglobin, serum albumin, microalbuminuria, and the urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio was developed for detection of early DKD and showed excellent correlation between the device and laboratory results. This device has the potential for early detection of DM and/or DKD, especially in remote communities in underserved areas of the world where prevalence of diabetes is rapidly increasing.