Diabetes, Vol 39, Issue 7 768-774, Copyright © 1990 by American Diabetes Association
Plasma C-peptide levels and clinical remissions in recent-onset type I diabetic patients treated with cyclosporin A and insulin
R Assan, G Feutren, J Sirmai, C Laborie, C Boitard, P Vexiau, H Du Rostu, M Rodier, M Figoni, P Vague and al. et
Diabetes Department, Hopital Bichat, Paris, France.
Remission from insulin dependency in insulin-treated recent-onset type I
(insulin-dependent) diabetic patients can result from a partial recovery of
insulin secretion, an improvement in tissue sensitivity to insulin, or
both. The same hypothesis must be analyzed when remission occurs in
cyclosporin A (CsA)-treated patients. In this study, plasma C-peptide
levels were serially measured in the basal state and after stimulation in
219 recent-onset type I diabetic patients; 129 received CsA, and all
patients were similarly monitored and insulin treated. The results were
analyzed in view of the occurrence of remission. Remission was defined as
good metabolic control in the absence of hypoglycemic treatment for greater
than or equal to 1 mo. Remission occurred in 44% of the CsA-treated group
and lasted for mean +/- SE 10.0 +/- 0.9 mo vs. 21.6% in the non-CsA-treated
group with a duration of 4.4 +/- 0.8 mo. Plasma C-peptide levels were
initially dramatically lower than normal in both groups in the basal and
stimulated states. C-peptide levels increased significantly later, at 3 and
6 mo, in both groups. C-peptide values were proportional to the rates of
remission in both groups. In the non-CsA-treated group, C-peptide levels
later decreased, and these patients inexorably relapsed to insulin
dependency. In contrast, in the CsA-treated group, the initial recovery in
insulin secretory capacity was maintained over the 18-24 mo of the study.
Furthermore, higher remission rates and longer-lasting remission were
obtained in patients who reached higher C-peptide levels at the 3rd mo of
treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)