Ketosis-Prone Diabetes (KPD): case report

Background The ketosis-prone diabetes syndrome (KPD) is characterized by a severe dysfunction of pancreatic beta cells, leading to the diagnosis of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) in patients that do not present the typical phenotype of diabetes mellitus type 1 (DM1). This heterogenic condition has been observed more often in urgent care facilities, leading to confusion in diagnosis and potential treatment errors, with negative outcomes. KPD must be suspected in patients with clinical presentation and laboratory findings of diabetic ketoacidosis that do not fit the clinical and laboratorial profiles of DM1. The incidence rate of KPD is highest in African-Americans and Hispanics, and obesity is the most common phenotype. Overall, patients have type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) with considerable family history. Four subgroups were identified for KPD: presence or absence of autoimmune response against beta cells (A+ or A-) and presence or absence of pancreatic reserve (B+ or B-).