Islet autoimmunity in infants with a Type I diabetic relative is common but is frequently restricted to one autoantibody

Abstract

Aims/hypothesis. To determine the sequence of development of islet autoantibodies and their relation to HLA genes in infants at risk for Type I diabetes followed from birth. Methods. We followed 357 (189 male, 168 female) infants, with a first degree relative with Type I diabetes for a mean of 3 years from birth. Human leukocyte antigen typing and assays for insulin autoantibodies (IAA), glutamic acid decarboxylase antibodies (GADAb) and tyrosine phosphatase IA2 (IA2Ab) antibodies were done on cord blood, and venous blood was sampled every 6 months for IAA, GADAb and IA2b. Results. We did not find any antibodies in 263 (73%) infants; 50 (14%) were positive for a single antibody once, (14%) w..