Islet Cell Antibodies and Histocompatibility Antigens (HLA) in Insulin-Dependent Diabetics and Their First-Degree Relatives

Abstract

We have studied HLA A, B, D, and DR and cytoplasmic islet cell antibodies (CICA) in 282 insulin-dependent diabetics (IDD) and 806 of their nondiabetic first-degree relatives. Fifty percent of the patients were positive in the first year of disease, but only 19% among those with disease for longer than 5 yr. No associations were found between CICA and HLA types, age at diagnosis, or family history. In the relatives of IDD patients CICA was present in (2.6%) of the sibs of the probands, (5.8%) of the parents, and (6.0%) of the children.