Latent autoimmune diabetes in adults in Asians: similarities and differences between East and West

Abstract

Latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA) is a form of autoimmune diabetes with features of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes and in the middle of the diabetes spectrum. Scientists clash on the question of whether this type of diabetes is a unique diabetes subtype. Multicenter studies have been performed in different countries, including the Korea National Diabetes Program (KNDP) collaboratory group, the Ehime study in Japan, the Not Insulin-Requiring Autoimmune Diabetes (NIRAD) study in Italy, the Nord-Trøndelag Health (HUNT) study in Norway, the UK Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS) in the UK, the Action LADA study in Europe and the LADA China study in China. These studies found universal immunogenetic effects associated with LADA, but with some ethnic differences. Herein we summarize those multicenter studies and compare the ethnic similarities and differences between East and West from epidemiological, clinical, immune, and genetic viewpoints.