Malihe Mohammadi - Department of Biology, Faculty of Basic Science, University of Sistan and Baluchestan, Zahedan, Iran.
Hossein Ali Khazaei - ۲. Department of Immunology and Hematology, Clinical Immunology Research Center, Faculty of Medicin, Zahedan University of Medical science, Iran.

Background and Aims: The prevalence of latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA) among diabetic patients is less recognized and underdiagnosed. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of LADA in type ۲ diabetic patients and to compare the characteristics of these two groups in Torbat-e Heydarieh, Iran. Materials and Methods: Totally, ۱۹۸ male and ۲۷۷ female patients diagnosed with type ۲ diabetes are aged between ۳۵ -۷۰ years were selected and the glutamic acid decarboxylase antibodies (GADA) assessment was used for the diagnosis of LADA in them. GADA in their sera was measured by commercial anti-GAD enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. In addition, blood pressure, sera C-peptide and cholesterol levels was measured and compared in the mentioned two groups. Demographic data including age, gender, age at diagnosis, family history of diabetes, body mass index and need for insulin therapy were collected from subjects and data were analyzed using SPSS software. Results: Of ۴۷۵ patients, ۵۳ ones (۱۱.۲%) were GADA positive. Significant difference was found between GADA positive and GADA negative patients in terms of mean age, C-peptide levels, cholesterol levels and need for insulin therapy to control the disease. As for gender, family history of diabetes, body mass index value and hypertension there was no significant correlation between these two groups. Conclusions: The prevalence of LADA in diabetic patients was ۱۱.۲%. Presence of GAD antibodies in diabetic patients is related to reduced levels of C-peptide, increased cholesterol levels and the need for insulin during the follow-up.

Glutamic acid decarboxylase, LADA, Prevalence, Type ۲ diabetes, Keywords: LADA, glutamic acid decarboxylase antibodies, Type ۲ diabetes, prevalence