Insulin resistance in pediatric systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract EN

Background: Childhood rheumatologic disorders are multisystem diseases characterized by inflammation, damage, and/or pain of the joints, and connective tissues.

Aim: This study aimed to detect the presence of insulin resistance (IR) in pediatric patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) which can lead to the development of diabetes mellitus.

Subjects and Methods: This case-control study was performed on 60 SLE, 60 RA patients, and 60 healthy subjects as a control group.

All subjects were subjected to detailed history taking, physical examination, and laboratory investigations including determination of fasting blood glucose (FBG), total cholesterol, triglyceride (TG), HDL, LDL, and fasting insulin.

Homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA IR) was calculated.

Results: There was no significant difference in the age, and FBG in the three studied groups but there was a significant difference as regard platelets counts, hemoglobin, ESR, CRP, TG, HDL, fasting insulin levels, and HOMA IR.

There is no significant difference between the SLE, and RA in disease duration, ESR, CRP, HDL, LDL, triglyceride, cholesterol, fasting blood glucose, fasting insulin levels, and HOMA IR.

There were significant positive correlations between HOMA IR with patients' BMI, ESR, CRP, TG, FBG, and fasting insulin levels in both SLE and RA groups.

Conclusions: SLE, and RA patients had a higher insulin resistance than age-matched healthy controls which can lead to the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

HOMA IR had positive correlations with BMI, TG, FBG, and fasting insulin levels in both SLE and RA groups.