title: Natural history of islet cell antibodies during the clinical period of type 1 diabetes. High titres at diagnosis are associated with longer persistence.
abstract: The natural history of islet cell antibodies (ICA), using standardized Juvenile Diabetes Foundation (JDF) units, was studied for two years in 64 type 1 (insulin dependent) diabetic patients, aged 7-45 years prospectively from clinical onset. While ICA were present among 44/64 (68.8%) of the newly diagnosed patients, only 9.3% remained positive at 24 months. The only factor which showed significant predictive value for ICA survival was high initial JDF ICA titres: Maximal persistence of ICA was observed in patients with 80 JDF units at diagnosis (100% at 12 and 24 month). This persistence was lower in patients with 40 JDF units at diagnosis (77% at 12 month, 40% at 24 month) and the lowest for patients with 5 JDF at diagnosis (14% at 12 month, 0% at 15 month). 14/20 (70%) of patients negative for the ICA test at diagnosis became positive during follow-up, but always with a low titre (5-10 JDF units) and for a short period (3-6 months). It is concluded that initial titre is the most important variable in predicting the maintenance of ICA during the first two years of clinical type 1 diabetes.
authors.affiliation: Endocrinology and Diabetes Unit, Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Goday
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fernandez
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Gonzalez-Clemente
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ferrer
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Usach
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gomis
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vilardell
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D002648:Child; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; C024211:islet cell antibody