Whole body insulin sensitivity is increased in systemic sclerosis

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Rheumatology
• Metabolic Health

Background:

• Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disease with complex metabolic implications.
• Understanding insulin sensitivity in SSc is crucial for comprehensive patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate whole-body insulin sensitivity in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc).
• To compare insulin sensitivity in SSc patients with those affected by rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and healthy controls (non-ARD).

Main Methods:

• Oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT) were conducted following WHO guidelines.
• Plasma glucose and insulin levels were measured at multiple time points.
• Whole-body insulin sensitivity (ISI), insulinogenic index (IGI), oral disposition index (ODI), and HOMA-IR were calculated.

Main Results:

• SSc patients showed a higher proportion of normotolerant individuals compared to RA patients.
• Significantly higher insulin sensitivity (ISI) was observed in SSc patients versus RA and non-ARD groups.
• Insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was significantly lower in SSc patients compared to both RA and non-ARD groups.

Conclusions:

• Systemic sclerosis patients demonstrate enhanced insulin sensitivity compared to RA patients and healthy controls.
• Beta-cell function, assessed by IGI and ODI, showed variations but did not significantly differ in overall disposition between groups.