title: GAD autoantibodies in a selection-free population of insulin-treated diabetic patients: indicator of a high prevalence of LADA?
abstract: Up to the present only few data have been available concerning the prevalence of diabetes-specific autoantibodies (anti-GAD, ICA, IAA, IA-2) in unselected populations, in particular in type 2 diabetic patients. Hence, the aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of anti-GAD in a selection-free population of insulin-treated diabetic patients. Accordingly, 90% of all the insulin-treated diabetic patients (type 1, n=127, type 2, n=117) aged 16-60 years and living in the city of Jena (100242 inhabitants) were examined. In order to test sera for anti-GAD, serum samples were taken in 75% of type 1 (n=95) and in 80% of insulin-treated type 2 diabetic (n=94) patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the group of type 1 diabetic patients 55% of the patients tested were positive for anti-GAD. But, interestingly, in the type 2 group, a total of 21% patients were positive. With respect to this high percentage of anti-GAD positive type 2 diabetic patients it must be suggested that the frequency of patients with latent autoimmune diabetes mellitus in adults (LADA) was underestimated in the past.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine II, University of Jena Medical School, D-07740, Jena, Germany. rschi@med.uni-jena.de
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schiel
authors.forename: U A
authors.initials: UA
authors.lastname: Müller
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D003928:Diabetic Nephropathies / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D003929:Diabetic Neuropathies / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D005968:Glutamate Decarboxylase / Q000276:immunology*; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D015995:Prevalence; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001323:Autoantibodies; D005968:Glutamate Decarboxylase; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D007328:Insulin