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

• Published in: Biochemia Medica Vol. 25; no. 3; pp. 469 - 473
• Main Authors: Katchunga, Philippe B, Mirindi, Patrick N, Kishabongo, Antoine S, Cikomola, Justin C, Bwanamdogo, Socrate, Philippé, Jan, Speeckaert, Marijn M, Delanghe, Joris R
• Format: Journal Article Paper
• Language: English
• Published: Croatia Medicinska naklada 01.01.2015; Croatian Society of Medical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Area Under Curve; Biomarkers - analysis; Blood Glucose - analysis; Case-Control Studies; Colorimetry - methods; Democratic Republic of the Congo - epidemiology; Developing Countries; diabetes mellitus; Diabetes Mellitus - drug therapy; Diabetes Mellitus - metabolism; Disease Management; Drug Monitoring; Fasting - blood; fasting glucose concentration; Female; Follow-Up Studies; fructosamine; Fructosamine - blood; Glycated Hemoglobin A - analysis; Glycation End Products, Advanced - analysis; hemoglobin A1c protein; Humans; Hypoglycemic Agents - therapeutic use; Male; Middle Aged; nails; Nails - chemistry; ROC Curve; sub-Saharan Africa; Young Adult; sub-Saharan Africa; diabetes mellitus; hemoglobin A1c protein; fasting glucose concentration; fructosamine; nails
• ISSN: 1330-0962; 1846-7482; 1846-7482
• DOI: 10.11613/BM.2015.048

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. 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. 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. Measurement of glycated nail proteins could be used to diagnose and monitor diabetes mellitus in sub-Saharan Africa.