IA-2A positivity rate at manifestation of type 1 diabetes mellitus in Slovak children culminates in September

• Published in: Journal of pediatric endocrinology & metabolism : JPEM Vol. 16; no. 9; pp. 1263 - 1265
• Main Authors: Michalková, D, Mikulecký, M, Tomecková, E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany 01.12.2003
• Subjects: Adolescent; Autoantibodies - blood; Autoantibodies - immunology; Child; Child, Preschool; Data Interpretation, Statistical; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 - epidemiology; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 - immunology; Glutamate Decarboxylase - blood; Glutamate Decarboxylase - immunology; Humans; Infant; Injections; Insulin - administration & dosage; Insulin - blood; Insulin - immunology; Pancreas - enzymology; Pancreas - immunology; Periodicity; Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase, Non-Receptor Type 1; Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases - blood; Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases - immunology; Radioimmunoassay - methods; Seasons; Slovakia - epidemiology; Slovakia
• ISSN: 0334-018X

New cases of type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM1) in Slovak children accumulate in late summer, autumn and winter. Children manifesting the disease in these seasons have higher autoantibody positivity than those first diagnosed in spring or summer. One hundred and fifty Slovak children (and adolescents), aged 1-14 (15-17) years at the manifestation of DM1, born 1978-2000, with the disease manifested 1989-2001, were investigated at diagnosis by IA-2A, GADA and IAA autoantibody positivity, using standard radioimmunoassay procedures. The resulting risk score values (0-1) were related to calendar days of diagnosis. Their annual, semi-annual and quarterly periodicity was tested using Halberg's cosinor regression. Only IA-2A positivity at the time of diagnosis showed significant seasonal cycling, with the acme around the autumn equinox and with the nadir in spring. There was no increase of this positivity in winter. The maximum autoantibody levels were found for those manifesting the disease in late summer and early autumn--the only time of year in Slovakia when both the numbers of births of future diabetic children as well as those of manifestation of new cases are significantly above average.