title: Islet cell and insulin autoantibodies in organ-specific autoimmune patients. Their behaviour and predictive value for the development of type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus. A 10-year follow-up study.
abstract: To evaluate the behaviour and predictive value of islet cell and insulin autoantibodies in patients with organ-specific autoimmune diseases, we followed 21 non-diabetic subjects for a mean period of 84 +/- 27 months. Ten patients were persistently seropositive for complement-fixing islet cell antibodies and high titres of immunoglobulin G islet cell antibodies (greater than or equal to 1:8). The prevalence of persistent insulin autoantibodies in this group was 67%. Seven patients (70%) developed Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus after a latency period of 2-60 months. The predictive value of complement-fixing islet cell antibodies was 65%, and in the presence of both complement-fixing islet cell and insulin autoantibodies the predictive value rose to 76%. Eleven patients were seronegative for complement-fixing islet cell antibodies and had low immunoglobulin G islet cell antibodies titres (less than 1:8) that were either persistent or transient, or that fluctuated during follow-up. The prevalence of persistent insulin autoantibodies in this group was 45%; only one subject developed Type 1 diabetes. The predictive value of persistent islet cell antibodies (complement-fixing positive/negative) was 54%, and it rose to 70% when both islet cell and insulin autoantibodies were present. Individuals with only insulin autoantibodies or immunoglobulin G islet cell antibodies did not develop diabetes mellitus. A high frequency of HLA-DR3 and/or DR4 was found in patients who developed diabetes mellitus. Thus, the presence of both islet cell and insulin autoantibodies in patients with organ-specific autoimmune disease appears to confer the highest risk of progression toward Type 1 diabetes.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Betterle
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Presotto
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pedini
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Moro
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Slack
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zanette
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zanchetta
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D007330:Insulin Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007330:Insulin Antibodies