Coxsackie B virus IgM in children at onset of type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus: evidence for IgM induction by a recent or current infection.
Thirty-five children with newly-diagnosed Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus and their 47 siblings were investigated for the presence of IgM antibodies to Coxsackie B virus serotypes 1-5 (CBV 1-5) with the aid of mu-antibody-capture radioimmunoassays. When a high cut-off value was used, 16 (46%) diabetic children and 16 (34%) siblings showed CBV-IgM. Of the siblings of diabetic patients positive for CBV-IgM, 11 (44%) were CBV-IgM-positive; the corresponding figure for the siblings of negative patients was five (26%). With a lower cut-off value, leading to a "borderline titre", the frequency of IgM positivity increased in both the patients and siblings. When the borderline titres were included, the number of IgM-positive patients was 19 (54%) and the corresponding number of siblings was 29 (62%). Of the siblings of positive patients, 27 (93%) showed CBV-IgM, and of the siblings of the negative patients, two (11%) were CBV-IgM-positive. Sixteen (89%) siblings of IgM-negative patients remained negative. Regarding the serotypes of CBV to which IgM was directed, CBV 4 was most frequent, followed by serotypes CBV 3, CBV 2, CBV 5 and CBV 1. There was a striking similarity between the individual diabetic child and his or her sibling(s) concerning this specificity of IgM. It is concluded that within most families with a newly-diagnosed diabetic child positive for CBV-IgM the same serotype(s) of the virus circulates and that the intrafamilial spread of virus is considerable. The results strongly indicate that the IgM detected was CBV-specific and caused by a recent or current CBV infection.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Frisk
G
G
Department of Medical Virology, University Hospital, University of Uppsala, Sweden.
Friman
G
G
Tuvemo
T
T
Fohlman
J
J
Diderholm
H
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000910:Antibodies, Heterophile / Q000032:analysis; D000917:Antibody Formation; D002648:Child; D003384:Coxsackievirus Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D029822:Enterovirus B, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D009679:Nuclear Family
D000910:Antibodies, Heterophile; D007075:Immunoglobulin M