Clinical characteristics and diabetes associated autoantibodies in patients with both type 1 diabetes mellitus and asthma.
OBJECTIVE
Type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM1) and asthma are mediated by opposite arms of the cellular immune system, namely T helper (Th)1 and Th2 CD4+ cells, respectively. It is not known whether their coexistence affects their clinical manifestations.


METHODS
The number of asthma exacerbations, frequency of hypoglycemic events, HbA1c levels, diabetes associated autoantibody status and diabetes associated late complications were determined in three paired groups of patients (n = 11) matched by gender and age: DM1 and asthma, asthma only, and DM1 only.


RESULTS
Patients with both diseases had a higher prevalence of hypoglycemic events per month compared to patients with DM1 only: 5.67 +/- 4.27 vs 1.45 +/- 2.06, respectively (p = 0.008). The co-existence of the two diseases did not modify the remaining clinical and laboratory parameters.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with both DM1 and asthma have similar clinical characteristics to patients with only one of these diseases apart from a higher rate of hypoglycemic events compared to patients with DM1 without asthma.
Rachmiel
M
M
Department of Pediatrics, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Zerifin, Israel.
Bloch
O
O
Bistritzer
Z
Z
Weintrob
N
N
Ofan
R
R
Bloch
K
K
Vardi
P
P
Rapoport
M J
MJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005968:Glutamate Decarboxylase / Q000276:immunology; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007003:Hypoglycemia / Q000209:etiology; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male
D001323:Autoantibodies; D005968:Glutamate Decarboxylase; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; C096322:ICA512 autoantibody