Genotype and phenotype correlations in diabetic patients in Uruguay

ABSTRACT. To differentiate among different types of diabetes is becom-ing an increasingly challenging task. We investigated whether the patient’s genetic profile is useful to identify the particular type of diabetes, to deter-mine the corresponding hyperglycemia pathogenesis and treat accordingly. Three hundred and thirty-eight diabetic patients, diagnosed according to American Diabetes Association criteria, were recruited from 2004 to 2008 in diabetes health reference centers. We analyzed the major gene for type 1 diabetes susceptibility (HLA DQ/DR). In order to improve our understand-ing of the pathogenesis of the resulting hyperglycemia and to implement a more adequate treatment for the patients, we reclassified our sample ac-1353 ©FUNPEC-RP www.funpecrp.com.brGenetics and Molecular Research 8 (4): 1352-1358 (2009) Genotype and phenotype correlations in diabetic patients cording to the presence or absence of the genetic markers. We found that a higher percentage of people than expected have immunological disease, in