Clinical and subclinical organ-specific autoimmune manifestations in Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetic patients and their first-degree relatives

Abstract

Studying 239 Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetic patients and 144 of their first-degree relatives, we found a significant prevalence of autoimmune manifestations in both groups, compared with sex-and age-matched control subjects (p< 0.001). In particular, in diabetic patients we found a high frequency of autoimmune thyroid disease and idiopathic Addison's disease and also a significant prevalence of thyroid (p< 0.001), parietal cell (p< 0.05) and adrenal antibodies (p< 0.05). In the relatives a high frequency of thyroid disease, thyroid, parietal cell and adrenal antibodies and a significant prevalence of islet cell antibodies (p< 0.05) were detected. In both groups functional glandular tests and gastric biopsies performed on the basis of autoantibody positivity revealed 13 examples of subclinical hypothyroidism, two cases of reduced adrenocortical reserve and five of atrophic gastritis. Autoantibody screening in diabetic patients and their relatives permitted the early diagnosis of the underlying endocrine disorders.