OBJECTIVETo investigate the diagnostic value of serum islet autoantibody-glutamic acid decarboxylase antibody (GADA) and islet cell antibody (ICA) in patients with hepatogenic diabetes.

METHODSSerum GADA and ICA were measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 217 patients with chronic hepatitis B (CH) or liver cirrhosis (LC). The positivity rate of GADA and ICA in different phases of CH and LC and their relations with diabetes mellitus were analyzed.

RESULTSThe positivity rate of the islet autoantibody in the circulation was 72% in CH and LC patients with diabetes mellitus and 30% in patients with normal glucose level, showing significant difference between the two patient groups (Chi2=36.620, P=0.000). CH patients with diabetes had much higher positivity rate for the antibody [52% than type 2 diabetic patients with liver dysfunction [8%, P<0.05]. The positivity rate was also much higher in CH and LC patients with lowered C peptide level [70%] than in those with normal C peptide level [40%, P<0.005].

CONCLUSIONBoth GADA and ICA have important value in the diagnosis of hepatogenic diabetes and may serve as indexed in laboratory test for distinguishing hepatogenic diabetes from type 2 diabetes.