Urinary C-Peptide Creatinine Ratio as a Non-Invasive Tool for Identifying Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults (LADA)

Abstract

Wei Liu,1 Xingquan Huang,1,2 Xiuying Zhang,1 Xiaoling Cai,1 Xueyao Han,1 Xianghai Zhou,1 Ling Chen,1 Rui Zhang,1 Siqian Gong,1 Yanai Wang,1 Linong Ji1 1Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Peking University People’s Hospital, Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Hebei North University, Zhangjiakou, Hebei, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Linong JiDepartment of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Peking University People’s Hospital, No. 11, Xi Zhi Men Nan Street, Beijing 100044, People’s Republic of ChinaTel [phone]Fax [phone]Email [email protected]: Latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA) is a slowly progressing form of immune-mediated diabetes that combines phenotypical features of both type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), meaning that accurate and early diagnosis of this subtype of diabetes is critical for optimal long-term management. Urinary C-peptide creatinine ratio (UCPCR) represents a non-invasive and practical method for assessing endogenous insulin production to facilitate diabetes classification. However, no study to date has reported the use of UCPCR in identifying LADA.Patients and methods: A total of 574 subjects were included in our study (42 LADA, 61 T1DM, 471 T2DM). All participants were evaluated for UCPCR and underwent clinical and laboratory evaluations. UCPCR was compared among different subtypes of diabetes using multinomial regression analysis, and a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to identify its performance in diagnosing LADA.Results: UCPCR was lower in LADA (0.4±0.6 nmol/mmol) compared with T2DM (1.2±0.9 nmol/mmol), but higher than in T1DM (0.2±0.3 nmol/mmol) (p<0.05). The association between UCPCR and LADA remained significant after adjusting for gender, age, age at diagnosis, body mass index, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglyceride (OR, 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.29 (0.09, 0.95)). The ROC curve revealed an area under the curve of 0.835 (95% CI (0.742–0.928), p<0.001). The cut-off point for UCPCR ≤ 0.46 nmol/mmol was 82.1% for sensitivity and 76.7% for specificity in the diagnosis of LADA.Conclusion: UCPCR may represent a non-invasive, simple, and practical measurement of insulin secretion for early discrimination of LADA in routine clinical practice.Keywords: autoimmune diabetes, urinary C-peptide, β-cell function, non-invasive measurement  

Keywords

• autoimmune diabetes
• urinary c-peptide
• β-cell function
• non-invasive measurement