Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.11613/BM.2015.048

Glycated nail proteins as a new biomarker in management of the South Kivu Congolese diabetics

Philippe B. Katchunga ; Observatory NCDs VLIR-UOS/UBC, Faculty of Medicine of the Catholic University of Bukavu, Bukavu, South-Kivu Province, Democratic Republic of Congo
Patrick N. Mirindi ; Regional School of Public Health (ERSP), Faculty of Medicine of the Catholic University of Bukavu, Bukavu, South-Kivu Province, Democratic Republic of Congo
Antoine S. Kishabongo ; Observatory NCDs VLIR-UOS/UBC, Faculty of Medicine of the Catholic University of Bukavu, Bukavu, South-Kivu Province, Democratic Republic of Congo
Justin C. Cikomola ; Observatory NCDs VLIR-UOS/UBC, Faculty of Medicine of the Catholic University of Bukavu, Bukavu, South-Kivu Province, Democratic Republic of Congo
Socrate Bwanamdogo ; Observatory NCDs VLIR-UOS/UBC, Faculty of Medicine of the Catholic University of Bukavu, Bukavu, South-Kivu Province, Democratic Republic of Congo
Jan Philippé ; Observatory NCDs VLIR-UOS/UBC, Faculty of Medicine of the Catholic University of Bukavu, Bukavu, South-Kivu Province, Democratic Republic of Congo
Marijn M. Speeckaert ; Department of Nephrology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
Joris R. Delanghe ; Observatory NCDs VLIR-UOS/UBC, Faculty of Medicine of the Catholic University of Bukavu, Bukavu, South-Kivu Province, Democratic Republic of Congo

Abstract

Introduction: Diagnosis and monitoring of diabetes mellitus in sub-Saharan Africa, based on blood analyses, are hampered by infrastructural and cultural reasons. The first aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of glycated nail proteins for diabetes mellitus. The second aim was to compare the course of short- and long-term glycemic biomarkers after 6 months of antidiabetic treatment. These objectives should support our hypothesis that glycated nail proteins could be used as an alternative glycemic biomarker.
Materials and methods: This case-control study consisted of 163 black diabetics and 67 non-diabetics of the South Kivu (Democratic Republic of Congo). Diagnostic accuracy of glycated nail proteins was evaluated using ROC curve analysis. At the start of the study, glycated nail protein concentrations were compared between diabetics and non-diabetics, using a nitro blue tetrazolium (NBT) colorimetric method. In a subgroup of 30 diabetics, concentrations of glycated nail proteins, fasting glucose (Accu-Chek® Aviva), serum fructosamine (NBT) and HbA1c (DCA-2000+®) were measured at start and after 6 months.
Results: ROC analysis yielded an AUC of 0.71 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.65-0.76) and a cut-off point of 3.83 µmol/g nail. Concentration of glycated nail proteins was significantly higher (P < 0.001) in diabetics in comparison with non-diabetics. After 6 months of antidiabetic treatment, a significant drop in the fasting glucose concentration (P = 0.017) and concentration of glycated nail proteins (P = 0.008) was observed in contrast to serum fructosamine and HbA1c.
Conclusions: Measurement of glycated nail proteins could be used to diagnose and monitor diabetes mellitus in sub-Saharan Africa.

Keywords

fasting glucose concentration; fructosamine; hemoglobin A1c protein; nails; sub-Saharan Africa; diabetes mellitus

Hrčak ID:

148692

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/148692

Publication date:

15.10.2015.

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