Objectives: Adult-onset autoimmune diabetes, defined as having latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA), is characterized by a less intensive autoimmune process, in which a lymphocytic infiltration of the exocrine pancreas is involved. immunosuppressive agents may have potential therapeutic benefit. This is a pilot study examining the therapeutic effects of ciclosporin A on insulin secretion in patients with LADA.
Methods: The study was an open label, single arm, pilot trial. A total of 18 patients (12 men and 6 women with mean age of 40.6 yrs old) diagnosed with LADA were prospectively evaluated. All patients underwent insulin treatment at least for 3 months without any oral anti-hyperglycemic agent. All patients were prescribed ciclosporin A (50mg/day) for 12 weeks. Serum C-peptide concentrations were measured at baseline and 3 months after ciclosporin A intervention. We also evaluated total bilirubin (TBIL), direct bilirubin (DBIL), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and creatinine (Cre) before and after ciclosporin A treatment. The primary outcome of the study was the change in serum C-peptide concentrations.
Results: A total of 17 patients completed the study. One patient was withdrawn at day 32 due to discontinuation of medication. Serum fasting C-peptide concentrations significantly increased from 0.12 ng/ml up to 0.32 ng/ml (P<0.001). After 12-week ciclosporin A intervention, there was no significant difference on TBIL (14.65 vs. 12.83umol/L, P>0.05), DBIL (4.70 vs. 4.65 umol/L, P>0.05), AST (17.41 vs. 17.82 U/L, p>0.05), ALT (18.19 vs. 18.08 U/L, p>0.05), or Cre (67.40 vs. 67.53 umol/L, P>0.05) compared with the corresponding baseline levels.
Conclusions: This pilot study demonstrates the potential therapeutic effects of oral administration of ciclosporin A for patients with LADA. Larger, controlled studies are needed to verify the findings.
L. Zhang: None. W. Meng: None. S. Chen: None. Y. Yang: None. J. Wang: None. Y. Dong: None.
