title: Pancreatic autoantibodies in Tunisian children with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes.
abstract: We analyzed 86 children with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes for antibodies to islet cells (ICA), glutamic acid decarboxylase (GADA), second-islet antigen (IA-2A), and insulin (IAA) in order to evaluate the prevalence of immune-mediated type 1 diabetes, as well as to recognize which autoantibody combination is more frequently associated with the disease. A positive result for one or more diabetes-related antibodies evaluated was found in 78 children (90.7%). With regard to single autoantibody testing, ICA were found to be positive in 49 patients (57%), GADA in 56 (65.1%), IA-2A in 37 (43%), and IAA in 43 (50%) patients. Combining the determination of at least two autoantibodies, GADA and/or IAA were better detectable than other antibody combination, being positive in 70 patients (81.4%). GADA and IA-2A represent also a useful screening combination; being positive in 65 patients (75.6%). Our data indicate that the vast majority of cases of type 1 diabetes in children may be considered as immune-mediated and that multiple autoantibody analysis improves identification of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Immunology Department, Habib Bourguiba Hospital, 3029 Sfax, Tunisia. raouiafakh2@yahoo.fr
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fakhfakh
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Haddouk
authors.forename: Y B
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Hadj Hamida
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kamoun
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Ayed
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hachicha
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Masmoudi
mesh_terms: D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D005968:Glutamate Decarboxylase / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000276:immunology; D010179:Pancreas / Q000276:immunology*; D014416:Tunisia
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; C024211:islet cell antibody; D005968:Glutamate Decarboxylase