Coxsackie B virus antibody responses in juvenile-onset diabetes mellitus

A prospective serological study of patients with recently diagnosed juvenile-onset diabetes mellitus was carried out to determine neutralizing antibody responses to Coxsackie B viruses. The sera were tested with and without staphylococcal protein A absorption, to selectively ascertain whether specific IgM or IgG antibody predominated. Of eleven patients studied, ten had reciprocal antibody titres of sixteen or greater to at least one serotype. Three patients showed no reduction in titre in at least one serum sample after protein A absorption, suggesting a predominant IgM-specific primary response to a recent infection by a Coxsackie B virus. The findings support the possibility that at least some cases of juvenile-onset diabetes mellitus are closely related to Coxsackie B virus infections.