Saudi Journal of Biomedical Research (SJBR)
Volume-1 | Issue-01 | 1-5
Case Report
Difficulties in the diagnosis aetiology of A- β- ketosis-prone diabetes in a NorthAfrican adult
Ines Slim, Abdelbasset Amara, Asma Baba, Molka Chadli-Chaieb, Koussay Ach, Saloua JemniYaacoub, Ali Saad, Philippe Froguel, Moez Gribaa, Martine Vaxillaire, Larbi Chaieb
Published : March 28, 2016
Abstract
Ketosis-prone diabetes (KPD) is a heterogeneous syndrome characterized by patients who present with
diabetic ketoacidosis or unprovoked ketosis but do not necessarily have the typical phenotype of autoimmune type 1
diabetes. In this case report, we expose the difficulties in the diagnosis aetiology of A- β- ketosis-prone diabetes (KPD)
in a 22-year-old North-African woman presenting with diabetic ketoacidosis. Her initial glycaemia was at 17.2 mmol/L
and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) was moderately increased at 7.6% with no clinical evidence of other precipitating
illnesses or stressful events. Her baseline and glucagon-stimulated serum C-peptide levels were below the detection limit
at the time of admission. All anti-pancreatic antibodies were negative and pancreatic imaging was normal. Direct
sequencing of HNF1A, HNF4A, INS, IPF1, NEUROD1 and PAX4 genes were performed and showed three mutations in
HNF1A (I27L), NEUROD1 (A45T) and PAX4 (H321P). HLA typing showed the genotype DQB1*03-
DRB1*11/DQB1*03-DRB1*13. Based on that data, type 1A diabetes mellitus (DM) could be excluded. However,
criteria of fulminant type 1 DM are mostly filled but difficult to be confirmed and the MODY (Maturity Onset diabetes
of the young) hypothesis could not be ruled out as other genes may be involved. Our observation highlights the
difficulties of understanding the aetiology of A- β- KPD with sudden-onset although clinical, imaging, immunologic and
genetic data are available.