Increased Prevalence of Diabetes‐Related Autoantibodies in Celiac Disease

Abstract

SummaryForty‐four nondiabetic patients with celiac disease (CD) were examined for the presence of insulin‐dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM)‐related autoantibodies. Islet cell antibodies (ICA) were detected in 2 of 44 (4.5%). None of the 200 age‐ and sex‐matched healthy controls was ICA positive (p < 0.05). Competitive anti‐insulin antibodies (CIAA) were detected in 1 of 44 (2.5%) patients. First‐phase insulin reserve (FPIR), stimulated insulin reserve (SIR), and glycosylated hemoglobin (GHB) levels were normal in the autoantibody‐positive patients. Our data suggest that, like first‐degree relatives of IDDM patients, CD patients are characterized by an increased prevalence of diabetes‐related autoantibodies. Further follow‐up is needed to determine whether the presence of these autoantibodies in nondiabetic CD patients predicts future IDDM.