title: Beta-cell autoimmunity in pediatric celiac disease: the case for routine screening?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the prevalence of beta-cell autoimmunity and the usefulness of a type 1 diabetes screening in patients with celiac disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  We measured GAD antibodies (GADAs), insulinoma-associated protein 2 antigens (IA-2As), and insulin autoantibodies (IAAs) in 188 young Italian patients with celiac disease (66 male [35.1%]). Mean age at celiac disease diagnosis was 5.4 years (0.5-17.1), and mean celiac disease duration was 4.2 years (0-28.8). Celiac disease was diagnosed by jejunal biopsy after positivity for endomysial and tissue transglutaminase antibody was confirmed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  GADAs were positive in seven patients (3.7%), and IA-2As were positive in two patients. IAAs were negative in all cases. Metabolic evaluation was normal, and no patients developed diabetes during follow-up. There was no significant association among beta-cell autoimmunity and sex, age, pubertal stage, family history, or coexistence of other autoimmune disorders; compliance to a gluten-free diet was confirmed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results showed a low prevalence of beta-cell autoimmunity and do not support a precocious screening for beta-cell autoimmunity in young celiac disease patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Genoa, IRCCS G. Gaslini Institute, Genoa, Italy. giuseppedannunzio@ospedale-gaslini.ge.it
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: d'Annunzio
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giannattasio
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Poggi
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Castellano
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Calvi
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pistorio
authors.forename: Arrigo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barabino
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lorini
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017668:Age of Onset; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015551:Autoimmunity; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007330:Insulin Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D050417:Insulin-Secreting Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; C096322:ICA512 autoantibody; D007330:Insulin Antibodies