ORGAN‐SPECIFIC ANTIBODIES IN HEALTHY AND DIABETIC CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS

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Abstract
Children and young adults (160, aged 7-21 yr) and 84 diabetics (aged 2-19 yr) were screened for thyroglobulin (TgA), thyroid microsomal (MsA), smooth muscle, parietal cell (PCA), reticulin (RA), glomerular and mitochondrial antibodies. The diabetics were also screened for islet cell antibodies (ICA). The overall incidence of other antibodies than ICA at the lowest serum titer studied was 18.1% for healthy children and 30.9% for diabetic children. The elevation in diabetics is significant (P < 0.01). Females were overrepresented in both groups and had the highest titers of antibodies. The age group 10-14-yr was a special time at which antibody titers became positive. Compared with the controls, diabetics exhibited an increased incidence of MsA (4.4 and 11.9% respectively, P < 0.001), PCA (5.0 and 10.7% respectively, P < 0.05) and RA (3.8 and 9.5% respectively, P < 0.05). The presence or ICA or the duration of diabetes showed no correlation with other autoantibodies. Autoantibodies at a low titer are apparently a common phenomenon. Diabetics seem to be susceptible to react against their own tissue, which is probably associated with their increased frequency of autoimmune diseases.