title: Graves' disease in subjects with type 1 diabetes mellitus: a prevalence study in western Sicily (Italy).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the prevalence of Graves' disease in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus all coming from a defined geographical area (western Sicily-Italy) and to investigate the clinical features of these subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  The records of 470 consecutive patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus referred in a 5-year period were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the period of the survey, out of 470 patients with type 1 diabetes, 14 (3%) had a previous diagnosis of Graves' disease. There were 9 female and 5 male; these patients showed a high age at diabetes onset (mean 38 years). Diagnosis of Graves' disease was often pre-existing or simultaneous to that of diabetes. Vitiligo was coexisting in 4 subjects; none of them presented other autoimmune diseases. Graves' orbitopathy was present in two cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data confirm the frequent association between Graves' disease and type 1 diabetes. Graves' disease often preceded diagnosis of type 1 diabetes, particularly in female subjects with a high age at diabetes onset; therefore, in these subjects, an active search for the presence of pancreatic autoimmunity is warranted for many years after thyroid dysfunction appearance.
authors.affiliation: Division of Diabetology, Paolo Borsellino Hospital, Marsala, Italy. drgreco@alice.it
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Greco
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pisciotta
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gambina
authors.forename: Filippo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Maggio
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D015897:Comorbidity; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006111:Graves Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012802:Sicily / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors; D014820:Vitiligo / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult