Glutamate decarboxylase antibodies in non-diabetic pregnancy precedes insulin-dependent diabetes in the mother but not necessarily in the offspring.
We studied the risk for diabetes of glutamate decarboxylase (GAD65Ab) and islet cell (ICA) autoantibodies in non-diabetic pregnant mothers and their children. Pregnancy and cord blood sera were collected in 1970-87 from about 35,000 mothers who delivered a child in the city of Malmö, Sweden. A total of 42 mothers were identified in 1988 who, 1-18 years after their pregnancies, had developed either insulin-dependent (n = 22) or non-insulin dependent (n = 20) diabetes mellitus. First, in 123 pregnant mothers selected as controls, 0.8% had GAD65Ab and 0.8% ICA. Second, among the mothers with non-insulin dependent diabetes, 7/20 (35%) had GAD65Ab eight months to 13 years, 10 months before clinical diagnosis. Third, in mothers who later developed insulin-dependent diabetes, 12/22 (55%) had GAD65Ab and 10/22 (45%) had ICA in pregnancies preceding the clinical diagnosis by 13 months to 9 years, 4 months. In 1996, none of the children born to the 42 mothers have developed diabetes. GAD65Ab and ICA in non-diabetic pregnancies may predict insulin-dependent diabetes in the mother but not necessarily in the offspring.
Ivarsson
S A
SA
Department of Pediatrics, Malmö University Hospital, University of Lund, Sweden.
Ackefors
M
M
Carlsson
A
A
Ekberg
G
G
Falorni
A
A
Kockum
I
I
Landin-Olsson
M
M
Lernmark
A
A
Lindberg
B
B
Sundkvist
G
G
Svanberg
L
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers; D002648:Child; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000276:immunology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005968:Glutamate Decarboxylase / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000276:immunology*
D001323:Autoantibodies; D015415:Biomarkers; D005968:Glutamate Decarboxylase