title: Molecular epidemiology of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus: WHO DiaMond Project. WHO DiaMond Molecular Epidemiology Sub-Project Group.
abstract: The WHO DiaMond Molecular IDDM Epidemiology Sub-Project is testing the hypothesis that population variation in the frequency of high-risk HLA-DQ alleles is a primary determinant of the global patterns of IDDM incidence. Data are currently available for 16 populations, and reveal significant variations in the frequencies of HLA-DQA1 and DQB1 alleles among the case and the control groups. However, DQA1 x Arg-(52) and DQB1 x non-Asp-57 (ND) were consistent and independent markers of IDDM susceptibility in all populations, except Japan. Individuals who carried only DQA1 x R and DQB1 x ND alleles had an IDDM risk similar to that observed for first degree relatives of affected individuals (3%-5%). Such information is essential for the development of clinical strategies or disease prevention approaches for the general population or individuals at high-risk. Thus, the DiaMond Molecular Epidemiology Sub-Project provides an excellent model that can be followed to assess the impact of new genetic discoveries on medicine and public health practice for diabetes and other chronic diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dorman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000483:Alleles; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000517:prevention & control; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005802:Genes, MHC Class II; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D059848:HLA-DQ alpha-Chains; D059866:HLA-DQ beta-Chains; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012307:Risk Factors; D014944:World Health Organization
chemical_list: D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens; D059848:HLA-DQ alpha-Chains; D059866:HLA-DQ beta-Chains; C069050:HLA-DQA1 antigen; C069051:HLA-DQB1 antigen