Ketosis-Prone Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and <emph type="ital">Human Herpesvirus 8</emph> Infection in Sub-Saharan Africans

Abstract

INCE 1987, AN ATYPICAL PRESENtation of diabetes has emerged as one of the most frequent forms of diabetes in populations of African origin. [1][2][3][4][5] It is a diabetic syndrome characterized by an acute onset with severe hyperglycemia and ketosis or ketoacidosis requiring insulin therapy, followed by longterm insulin-free near-normoglycemic remission periods, 6,7 frequently interrupted by ketotic relapses. 3 Thus, it resembles type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM-1) at onset and prediabetes or type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM-2) over the long term. Because of the unknown etiology of this form of diabetes, especially in the absence of classic markers of autoimmune diabetes, it has conservatively been classified under idiopathic DM-1 or DM-1B by the World Health

Herpes Simplex (Hsv–1, 2) Seropositivity: A Study Carried Out Among Diabetic and Non-Diabetic Patients in A Community In Southwest Nigeria

“…A significant association of HSV-1, 2 seropositivity with ketonuria hyperglycaemia was found in this study. This agrees with the reports of other workers: Eugene et al [3] reported an association of herpes virus with DM-2 in patients of Sub-Saharan African origin where they recorded 87.7% seropositivity to HHV-8 in ketosis-prone DM-2. Yuhua et al [6] also reported an association of herpes simplex with diabetes..…”

“…In this category, a degree of hyperglycaemia sufficient to cause pathologic and functional changes in various target tissue, but without clinical symptoms, may be present for a long period of time before diabetes is detected [1,2]. Several millions of people have diabetes globally including Africa [3][4][5].…”

Immunological and C-peptide studies of patients with diabetes in northern Ethiopia: existence of an unusual subgroup possibly related to malnutrition

“…More recently, an 'atypical type 2' syndrome has been described in Africa, where initial insulin-dependence may later remit [4]. A viral aetiology for this type of diabetes has been suggested [5].…”

Multitissue Insulin Resistance Despite Near-Normoglycemic Remission in Africans With Ketosis-Prone Diabetes

“…Among possible candidates, we focused on human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8). We found a high association between KPD and HHV-8 infection and evidenced that this virus was able to infect human ␤-cells in vitro (25).…”