Latent autoimmune diabetes of adulthood (LADA) is associated with small fibre neuropathy.

To assess if latent autoimmune diabetes of adulthood (LADA) is associated with small fibre neuropathy. Participants with LADA (n=31), Type 2 diabetes (n=31) and healthy control participants without diabetes (n=31) underwent a detailed assessment of neurologic deficits, quantitative sensory testing, electrophysiology, skin biopsy and corneal confocal microscopy. The groups were matched for age (healthy control without diabetes: 53.5±9.1 vs. Type 2 diabetes: 58.0±6.5 vs. LADA: 53.2±11.6 years), duration of diabetes (Type 2 diabetes: 10.0±8.3 vs. LADA: 11.0±9.1 years) and blood pressure. However, BMI (P=0.01) and triglycerides (P=0.0008) were lower and HbA1c (P=0.0005), total cholesterol (P=0.01) and HDL (P=0.002) were higher in participants with LADA compared with Type 2 diabetes. Peroneal motor nerve conduction velocity (P=0.04) and sural sensory nerve conduction velocity (P=0.008) were lower in participants with latent autoimmune diabetes in adults compared with Type 2 diabetes. Intra-epidermal nerve fibre density (P=0.008), corneal nerve fibre density (P=0.003) and corneal nerve branch density (P=0.006) were significantly lower in participants with LADA compared with Type 2 diabetes. There were no significant differences in the other neuropathy parameters. Despite comparable age and duration of diabetes, participants with LADA demonstrate more severe neuropathy and particularly small fibre neuropathy, compared with participants with Type 2 diabetes.

Alam U ，Jeziorska M ，Petropoulos IN ，Pritchard N ，Edwards K ，Dehghani C ，Srinivasan S ，Asghar O ，Ferdousi M ，Ponirakis G ，Marshall A ，Boulton AJM ，Efron N ，Malik RA ... -  《-》

Risk of cardiac autonomic neuropathy in latent autoimmune diabetes in adults is similar to type 1 diabetes and lower compared to type 2 diabetes: A cross-sectional study.

Microvascular complications' risk differs between people with latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA) and people with type 2 diabetes. We aimed to investigate whether the prevalence of cardiac autonomic neuropathy, a life-threatening complication of diabetes, also varies depending on diabetes type. In this cross-sectional study, 43 adults with LADA, 80 with type 1 diabetes and 61 with type 2 diabetes were screened for cardiac autonomic neuropathy with recommended tests. Logistic regression models were used to test differences between diabetes types adjusting for confounders. Cardiac autonomic neuropathy was diagnosed in 17 (40%) participants with LADA, 21 (26%) participants with type 1 diabetes and 39 (64%) participants with type 2 diabetes (p < 0.001). The odds ratio (OR) for cardiac autonomic neuropathy in type 1 diabetes and in type 2 diabetes compared to LADA were 0.54 (95% CI: 0.25-1.20, p-value: 0.13) and 2.71 (95% CI: 1.21-6.06, p-value 0.015) respectively. Smoking (adj OR 3.09, 95% CI: 1.40-6.82, p-value: 0.005), HDL cholesterol (adj OR 0.29, 95% CI: 0.09-0.93, p-value: 0.037) and hypertension (adj OR 2.11, 95% CI: 1.05-4.24, p-value: 0.037) were independent modifiable risk factors for cardiac autonomic neuropathy. Differences among diabetes types did not change after correction for confounders. This is the first study offering a comparative evaluation of cardiac autonomic neuropathy among LADA, type 1 and type 2 diabetes, showing a lower risk of cardiac autonomic neuropathy in LADA compared to type 2 diabetes and similar compared to type 1 diabetes. This disparity was not due to differences in age, metabolic control or cardiovascular risk factors.

Maddaloni E ，Moretti C ，Del Toro R ，Sterpetti S ，Ievolella MV ，Arnesano G ，Strollo R ，Briganti SI ，D'Onofrio L ，Pozzilli P ，Buzzetti R ... -  《-》

Evaluating peripheral nerve function in asymptomatic patients with type 2 diabetes or latent autoimmune diabetes of adults (LADA): results from nerve conduction studies.

To assess the involvement of peripheral nerve dysfunction in asymptomatic patients with latent autoimmune diabetes of adults (LADA) or type 2 diabetes (T2DM), and compare nerve conduction (NC) parameters between the two groups. A total of 1635 patients without symptoms and signs relevant to diabetic polyneuropathy (1275 with T2DM and 360 with LADA) were included and were further categorized into 3 groups according to diabetes duration: <5years, 5-14 years and ≥15years. All subjects underwent nerve conduction studies. Abnormal NC was defined as the abnormality of NC parameters in two or more anatomical nerves. In both LADA and T2DM patients, the proportions of abnormal NC increased significantly with increasing durations (both P for trend <0.001). Specifically, abnormal NC was present in 18.5%, 38.8% and 66.7% of LADA patients with duration of <5 years, 5-14 years and ≥15 years, respectively. Those numbers were 24.8% (P=0.152, vs. LADA), 25.3% (P=0.023, vs. LADA) and 62.8% (P=0.723, vs. LADA) in T2DM. Regarding NC parameters, T2DM patients had higher composite Z-scores of latency than LADA patients within 5 years of duration (P=0.001). In patients with duration of 5-14years, the latency Z-scores were comparable between the two groups (P=0.164), whereas the Z-scores of amplitude were lower (the lower the worse) in LADA than in T2DM (P=0.035). Peripheral nerve dysfunction is common in asymptomatic patients with LADA or T2DM. Findings of the study suggest that LADA and T2DM differ in the pattern of peripheral nerve involvement over diabetes duration.

Wang C ，Lu J ，Lu W ，Yu H ，Jiang L ，Li M ，Chen H ，Yu H ，Zhou J ，Liu F ，Bao Y ，Jia W ... -  《-》

Explanations for less small fibre neuropathy in South Asian versus European subjects with type 2 diabetes in the UK.

Low foot ulcer risk in South Asian, compared with European, people with type 2 diabetes in the UK has been attributed to their lower levels of neuropathy. We have undertaken a detailed study of corneal nerve morphology and neuropathy risk factors, to establish the basis of preserved small nerve fibre function in South Asians versus Europeans. In a cross-sectional, population-based study, age- and sex-matched South Asians (n = 77) and Europeans (n = 78) with type 2 diabetes underwent neuropathy assessment using corneal confocal microscopy, symptoms, signs, quantitative sensory testing, electrophysiology and autonomic function testing. Multivariable linear regression analyses determined factors accounting for ethnic differences in small fibre damage. Corneal nerve fibre length (22.0 ± 7.9 vs. 19.3 ± 6.3 mm/mm2 ; P = 0.037), corneal nerve branch density (geometric mean (range): 60.0 (4.7-246.2) vs. 46.0 (3.1-129.2) no./mm2 ; P = 0.021) and heart rate variability (geometric mean (range): 7.9 (1.4-27.7) vs. 6.5 (1.5-22.0); P = 0.044), were significantly higher in South Asians vs. Europeans. All other neuropathy measures did not differ, except for better sural nerve amplitude in South Asians (geometric mean (range): 10.0 (1.3-43.0) vs. 7.2 (1.0-30.0); P = 0.006). Variables with the greatest impact on attenuating the P value for age- and HbA1C -adjusted ethnic difference in corneal nerve fibre length (P = 0.032) were pack-years smoked (P = 0.13), BMI (P = 0.062) and triglyceride levels (P = 0.062). South Asians have better preserved small nerve fibre integrity than equivalent Europeans; furthermore, classic, modifiable risk factors for coronary heart disease are the main contributors to these ethnic differences. We suggest that improved autonomic neurogenic control of cutaneous blood flow in Asians may contribute to their protection against foot ulcers.

Fadavi H ，Tavakoli M ，Foden P ，Ferdousi M ，Petropoulos IN ，Jeziorska M ，Chaturvedi N ，Boulton AJM ，Malik RA ，Abbott CA ... -  《-》

Diabetic neuropathy in patients with "latent autoimmune diabetes of the adults" (LADA) compared with patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

Baum P ，Hermann W ，Verlohren HJ ，Wagner A ，Lohmann T ，Grahmann F ... -  《JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY》