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Updated: Jul 18, 2025

Electrochemiluminescence Assays for Human Islet Autoantibodies
Published on: March 23, 2018
Gastrointestinal Infections Modulate the Risk for Insulin Autoantibodies as the First-Appearing Autoantibody in the
Maria Lönnrot1, Kristian F Lynch2, Marian Rewers3
1Department of Virology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, and Department of Dermatology, Tampere University Hospital, Wellbeing Services County of Pirkanmaa, Tampere, Finland.
Objective:
To investigate gastrointestinal infection episodes (GIEs) in relation to the appearance of islet autoantibodies in The Environmental Determinants of Diabetes in the Young (TEDDY) cohort.
Research Design And Methods:
GIEs on risk of autoantibodies against either insulin (IAA) or GAD (GADA) as the first-appearing autoantibody were assessed in a 10-year follow-up of 7,867 children. Stool virome was characterized in a nested case-control study.
Results:
GIE reports (odds ratio [OR] 2.17 [95% CI 1.39-3.39]) as well as Norwalk viruses found in stool (OR 5.69 [1.36-23.7]) at <1 year of age were associated with an increased IAA risk at 2-4 years of age. GIEs reported at age 1 to <2 years correlated with a lower risk of IAA up to 10 years of age (OR 0.48 [0.35-0.68]). GIE reports at any other age were associated with an increase in IAA risk (OR 2.04 for IAA when GIE was observed 12-23 months prior [1.41-2.96]). Impacts on GADA risk were limited to GIEs <6 months prior to autoantibody development in children <4 years of age (OR 2.16 [1.54-3.02]).
Conclusions:
Bidirectional associations were observed. GIEs were associated with increased IAA risk when reported before 1 year of age or 12-23 months prior to IAA. Norwalk virus was identified as one possible candidate factor. GIEs reported during the 2nd year of life were associated with a decreased IAA risk.
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