Abstract
The incidence rate of type 1 diabetes in Kuwait had been increasing exponentially and has doubled in children ≤ 14 years old within almost two decades. Therefore, there is a dire need for a careful systematic familial cohort study. Several immunogenetic factors affect the pathogenesis of the disease. The human leukocyte antigen (HLA) accounts for the major genetic susceptibility to the disease. The triggering agents initiate disease onset by type 1 destruction of pancreatic β-cells. Both HLA and anti-islet antibodies can be used to characterize, predict susceptibility to the disease, innovate, or delay the β-cell destruction. Evidence from prospective longitudinal studies suggested that the underlying disease process represents a continuum that begins before the symptoms are clinically evident. Autoimmunity of the functional pancreatic β-cells results in symptomatic type 1 diabetes and lifelong insulin dependence. The autoantibodies against glutamic acid decarboxylase (GADA), insulinoma antigen-2 (IA-2A), insulin (IAA), and zinc transporter-8 (ZnT-8A) comprise the most reliable biomarkers for type 1 diabetes in both children and adults. Although Kuwait is the second among the top 10 countries with a high incidence rate of type 1 diabetes, there have been no proper diagnostic and prediction tools as per the World Health Organization. The Kuwaiti Type 1 Diabetes Study (KADS) was initiated to understand the disease pathogenesis as well as the HLA and anti-islet autoantibody profile of type 1 diabetes in Kuwait. Understanding the disease sequela in a homogenous gene pool and highly consanguineous population of Kuwaitis could help solve the challenges and pathogenesis, as well as hasten the prevention, of type 1 diabetes.
Highlights
The incidence of type 1 diabetes (MIM #222100) continues to surge despite several therapeutic advances and has long been noticed to be highly variable among countries
In African Americans, the DRB1∗07:01-DQA1∗02:01-DQB1∗02:01g haplotype was protective against type 1 diabetes risk in European-derived cases but increased the type 1 diabetes risk in Africanderived cases [39]
Diabetes is a multifactorial disease caused by destruction of pancreatic islet β-cells
Summary
The incidence of type 1 diabetes (MIM #222100) continues to surge despite several therapeutic advances and has long been noticed to be highly variable among countries. Localizing genes and novel mutations in complex diseases have proven to be successful in such populations [10] Given these facts, there is a dire need for a careful systematic study on type 1 diabetes in Kuwait. KADS is a unique systematic study in the Arab population aimed at finding out immunogenetic markers of T1D in the Kuwaiti population and staging the preclinical phase of the disease. Such studies can explain the rapid rise of this silent killer disease in the region and will add the missing gap of knowledge in understanding the pathogenesis of the disease. Genetic susceptibility and triggering factors that were accounted for in these current phases were based almost solely on American or European studies
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
