title: Simultaneous onset and similar course of type 1 diabetes mellitus in monozygotic twins (a 4-year follow-up).
abstract: We report a rare case of monozygotic (MZ) twins who developed simultaneous onset of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Laboratory finding showed similar values of blood sugar, pH, glycosylated hemoglobin, and C-peptide. Urinary sugar and ketones were detected in both. Endocrine and immunological assessment showed similar results. No evidence (clinical or serological) of recent viral or bacterial infection was found. In the 4 years of follow-up, the twins also showed a similar course of disease. Concordance rates for T1DM are high in MZ twins; nevertheless, a simultaneous onset and a similar course of disease are unusual, as well as the HLA allelic variants of our patients. This extraordinary concordance in a pair of MZ twins could be the consequence of a greater environmental similarity or the role of genetic factors other than HLA genes in our twins.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Chieti, Chieti, Italy. ablasetti@tiscalinet.it
authors.forename: Annalisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Blasetti
authors.forename: Rosa Maria
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Chiuri
authors.forename: Anna Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Tocco
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Di Sabatino
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chiarelli
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Verrotti
mesh_terms: D017668:Age of Onset; D002648:Child; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000235:genetics*; D018450:Disease Progression; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006650:Histocompatibility Testing; D006801:Humans; D014430:Twins, Monozygotic / Q000235:genetics*