Islet cell antibodies and diabetes in Nigerians

Pancreatic islet cell antibodies and other autoantibodies were measured in 68 Nigerian diabetics and 68 non-diabetic controls matched for age and sex. Islet cell antibodies measured at the time of diagnoses, were found in only two diabetics (a male aged 20 on insulin and a male aged 41 years on tablets) out of 30 newly diagnosed cases. In 38 other cases, islet cell antibodies were found in two patients (a female aged 17 on insulin and a male aged 41 on tablets). One of the controls, a female, aged 28 years had islet cell antibodies. None of the islet cell positive diabetic or control sera were complement fixing or had other antibodies. At least one type of antibody was seen in 20.5% of the diabetics (2 parietal cell; 2 thyroid; 4 islet cell; 6 antinuclear) and in 13.2% of the controls (1 parietal; 1 islet cell; 1 glucagon; 6 antinuclear). This study shows that the division of diabetes into type I and type II on the basis of islet cell antibodies and insulin dependence as done in the Caucasian population may not generally fit the pattern of diabetes as seen in Nigeria and possibly other parts of the tropics.