Islet cell antibodies in diabetic children and their family members

ABSTRACT

Indirect immunofluorescence [IF] technique was used to detect islet cell antibodies [ICA] in sera of 35 children with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus [IDDM]. They include 24 males and 11 females. Their ages ranged between 3.5-20 yr. [mean, 10.9 +/- 3.6 yr.]. The duration of the disease ranged from 4d. - 9yr. Thirty five healthy control children with comparable age group [4 - 16 yr., mean, 9.7 +/- 3.2 yr.] and sex [19 males and 16 females]; and 35 first degree relatives of the patients were also studied. ICA were detected in 54% of the diabetic children, while none of the relatives or the control children were positive [P < 0.001]. The prevalence of ICA was higher [83%] among newly diagnosed cases than those with more than 6 months duration of IDDM [48%] [P < 0.05]. No correlation was found between the presence of ICA and blood group isotypes. The results are thoroughly explained and the significance of ICA as a marker for the development of IDDM is discussed