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A case of immune-mediated type 1 diabetes mellitus due to congenital rubella ınfection
Hüseyin Anıl Korkmaz1, Çağatay Ermiş2
1Division of of Pediatric Endocrinology, Balıkesir Atatürk State Hospital, Balıkesir, Turkey.
Insights
Congenital rubella infection can lead to type 1 diabetes mellitus and other health issues. This case highlights a patient with congenital rubella, presenting with diabetes and related complications.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Endocrinology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Congenital rubella infection (CRI) is a transplacental infection with diverse fetal complications.
- CRI is associated with an increased risk of developing type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM).
Purpose of the Study:
- To report a case of a patient with CRI presenting with immune-mediated T1DM.
- To highlight the clinical manifestations and diagnostic considerations in such cases.
Main Methods:
- Case report of a 13-year-old male patient.
- Clinical evaluation including assessment of symptoms (polyuria, polydipsia, weight loss) and physical findings (hearing loss, patent ductus arteriosus, microcephaly).
- Laboratory investigations including diabetes autoantibody testing.
Main Results:
- The patient presented with classic symptoms of new-onset diabetes mellitus.
- He also exhibited congenital anomalies consistent with CRI, including neurosensory hearing loss, patent ductus arteriosus, and microcephaly.
- Positive diabetes autoantibodies supported the diagnosis of immune-mediated T1DM.
Conclusions:
- Congenital rubella infection is a significant risk factor for developing type 1 diabetes mellitus.
- Early recognition and management of T1DM in patients with CRI are crucial.
- Further research is needed to understand the underlying mechanisms linking CRI and T1DM.
Abstract:
Congenital rubella infection is a transplacental infection that can cause intrauterine growth retardation, cataracts, patent ductus arteriosus, hearing loss, microcephaly, thrombocytopenia, and severe fetal injury. It has been shown that type 1 diabetes mellitus develops in 12%-20% of patients with congenital rubella infection, and disorders in the oral glucose tolerance test is observed in 40% of patients. No biochemical or serological markers exist which could indicate that type 1 diabetes was caused by a congenital rubella infection. We report a 13-year-old male patient who was admitted to our hospital with complaints of new-onset polyuria, polydipsia, urination, and weight loss. In addition, he was found to have neurosensory hearing loss, patent ductus arteriosus, and microcephaly. Immunemediated type 1 diabetes mellitus was considered due to the fact that the autoantibodies of diabetes mellitus were positive.
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