Immunogenetic characteristics of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus in young children

Abstract

HLA phenotype was determined in 100 children (50 girls and 50 boys) with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) aged 5.9 ± 2.3 years, on an average, the mean age by the disease manifestation 2.7 + 1.1. Fifty-nine antigens belonging to classes I and II were analyzed. HLA markers of predisposition to IDDM in early childhood were revealed: DQw3 (Pcor = 3.4*10-5), DR3/DR4 (Pcor= 1.6*10-9), DR4 (Pcor = 7.8*10-12), DR3 (Pcor = 6.3*10-7), B8 (Pcor = 2.6*10-7), and the resistance marker DQw7 (Pcor = 1.1*10'8). HLA markers of predisposition to IDDM may hold promise for the study of genetically regulated mechanisms of IDDM development, serve the criteria for the prediction of disease course, and indicate the possible variants of diabetes in early childhood. Immunogenetic heterogeneity of IDDM in young children has been proved. In girls the DR4 antigen is more incident. B12 antigen is the key marker of IDDM in infants aged under one. If diabetes manifests before the age of three, the most frequent antigens are DR3 and DR3/4. DR3/4 is the precursor of grave course of diabetes and predisposition to allergic diseases. В13 indicates an etiologic relationship of diabetes with rubella. DQ1, DR1 and B35 point to relationships with varicella.