Prevalence of diabetes-related autoantibodies in celiac disease

THE AIM: of this study is to investigate the prevalence of diabetes-related autoantibodies in a group of children with celiac disease and to compare it with a control group. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We recruited 31 celiac children at diagnosis (on gluten containing diet) and 31 age and sex matched healthy children. Anti-islet cell antibodies (ICA) were detected by indirect immunofluorescence on monkey pancreas. Anti-glutamate decarboxylase (anti-GAD) and anti-tyrosine phosphatase (anti-IA2) antibodies were assessed by a radio-immuno- precipitation method. RESULTS: Three out of 31 celiac patients (9.7%) had one or more diabetes-related autoantibodies. ICA, anti-GAD and anti-IA2 were found in respectively 3.2%; 3.2% and 9.7% of patients. Only one control (3.2%) had anti-GAD. There was no statistically significant difference between the 2 groups. CONCLUSION: The risk to develop diabetes seems to be the same in celiac patients and in healthy subjects thus screening of diabetes-related autoantibodies is not justified in celiac patients.