Anticardiolipin antibodies in children with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) is an autoimmune disease that selectively destroys insulin-secreting pancreatic beta cells. Anticardiolipin antibody is an autoantibody directed against cell membranes. An association of this antibody with diabetes mellitus has not been widely reported. The current investigation was performed to determine the prevalence of IgG and IgM anticardiolipin antibodies in 2 groups of children with type 1 IDDM and to find a relation, if any, with the control and duration of the disease. The study included 30 children with type 1 IDDM and 20 healthy control children. The children were subjected to history taking, clinical examination, and laboratory estimation of anticardiolipin IgG and IgM antibodies and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA(1c)). Analysis of the results showed that the mean levels of serum anticardiolipin IgG and IgM antibodies were significantly higher among the diabetic children than the healthy controls. Mean values of serum anticardiolipin IgG and IgM antibody levels were significantly higher in children with recent-onset diabetes (29.90 +/- 12.60 GPL/mL and 12.825 +/- 3.762 MPL/mL) than in those of long duration (>1 year: 10.84 +/- 5.796 GPL/mL and 4.142 +/- 2.910 MPL/mL, respectively). A negative correlation between the duration of diabetes and the level of IgG and IgM anticardiolipin antibodies and a positive correlation between the level of IgG and the level of IgM antibodies were observed. However, there was a nonsignificant correlation between anticardiolipin IgG and IgM levels and HbA(1c) levels, insulin dose, and fasting blood sugar. Therefore, anticardiolipin antibodies should be added to the list of autoantibodies detected in IDDM especially in the early stage of the disease.