COMPLEMENT-FIXING ISLET-CELL ANTIBODIES IN TYPE-I DIABETES - POSSIBLE MONITORS OF ACTIVE BETA-CELL DAMAGE

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  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 1  (8170) , 668-672
Abstract
Evidence is presented for the existence of a separate species of islet-cell antibodies which fix complement. Investigations in type I diabetics, non-diabetic polyendocrine patients and unaffected 1st-degree relatives of type I diabetic probands show that the complement-fixing islet-cell antibodies are more closely related to the onset of clinical disease than the conventional islet-cell antibody, and they tend to disappear more rapidly. The complement-fixing antibodies may reflect damage of pancreatic .beta. cells more selectively and may be preferable to the conventional antibody as a serological marker for studying the natural history of type I diabetes.

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