Pancreatic Autoantibodies in Italian Patients with Newly Diagnosed Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus under the Age of 20 Years

• Published in: Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 2002-04, Vol.958 (1), p.271-275
• Main Authors: BETTERLE, C., FUSARI, A., PRESOTTO, F., DAL PRA, C., PEDINI, B., LAZZAROTTO, F., ZANCHETTA, R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Age of Onset; Autoantibodies - immunology; Child; Child, Preschool; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 - diagnosis; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 - immunology; Female; Fluorescent Antibody Technique; Humans; Islets of Langerhans - immunology; Italy; Male; pancreatic autoantibodies; Radioimmunoassay; Radioligand Assay; type 1 diabetes mellitus
• ISSN: 0077-8923; 1749-6632
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2002.tb02985.x

: We analyzed 97 children and young persons (< 20 years of age) with newly diagnosed diabetes for antibodies to islet cells (ICAs), glutamic acid decarboxylase (GADAbs), second‐islet antigen (IA2Abs), and insulin (IAAs) in order to evaluate the prevalence of immune‐mediated type 1 diabetes, as well as to recognize which autoantibody combination is better associated with the disease. A positive result for one or more diabetes‐related antibodies evaluated was found in 92 children (94.8%): 41 females (95.3%) and 51 males (94.4%). With regard to single autoantibody testing, ICA levels were found to be positive in 84 patients (86.6%), GADAbs in 71 (73.2%), IA2Abs in 60 (61.8%), and IAAs in 51 (52.6%) patients. Combining the determination of at least two autoantibodies, ICAs and/or GADAbs were more frequently detectable than other antibody combinations, being positive in 89 patients (91.8%). Our data indicate that the vast majority of cases of type 1 diabetes in children may be considered as immune‐mediated, that multiple autoantibody analysis improves identification of the disease, and that first‐level screening is provided by the combined detection of ICAs and GADAbs.