Beta-cell, thyroid and celiac autoimmunity in children with type 1 diabetes

• Published in: Anales de pediatría (Barcelona, Spain : 2003) Vol. 61; no. 4; pp. 320 - 325
• Main Authors: López Medina, J A, López-Jurado Romero de la Cruz, R, Delgado García, A, Espigares Martín, R, Barrionuevo Porras, J L, Ortega Martos, L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Spanish
• Published: Spain 01.10.2004
• Subjects: Adolescent; Autoantibodies - blood; Autoantibodies - immunology; Autoimmunity - immunology; Celiac Disease - blood; Celiac Disease - complications; Celiac Disease - immunology; Child; Child, Preschool; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 - blood; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 - complications; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 - immunology; Female; Humans; Islets of Langerhans - immunology; Male; Thyroid Diseases - blood; Thyroid Diseases - complications; Thyroid Diseases - immunology; Thyroid Gland - immunology
• ISSN: 1695-4033

The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of beta-cell, thyroid and coeliac autoimmunity in children with recent-onset type 1 diabetes. We studied all children with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes. Data were analyzed from 63 children aged 2-14 years who were treated in the Department of Pediatrics of the Virgen de las Nieves University Hospital in Granada (Spain) from 1998-2002. Antibodies to glutamic acid decarboxylase-65 (GADA), anti-insulin (AIA), thyroperoxidase (anti-TPO), thyroglobulin (anti-TG), thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulins (TSI) and endomysial antibodies (EmA-IgA) were measured and documented. A total of 55.5 % of these patients were girls and the mean age was 7.9 +/- 3.2 years. The prevalence rates were: GADA 65.1 %; AIA 68.3 %; anti-TPO 11.1 %; anti-TG 9.5 %; TSI 4.8 % and EmA-Ig A 3.1 %. Children with thyroid antibodies (anti-TPO1) were significantly older and developed diabetes later in life (P < 0.05) than those without antibodies. Thyroid-stimulating hormone levels, goiter and thyroid dysfunction were higher in children who were anti-TPO1 than in diabetic children without thyroid autoimmunity. Children with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes show a high prevalence of thyroid and coeliac autoimmunity. In cases of positivity, additional work-up and intervention are advocated. These measures can prevent the well-known complications of diabetes and improve its clinical course.