The prevalence of anti-insulin (IAA), anti-glutamic acid decarboxylase 65 (anti-GAD) and anti-islet cell antibodies (ICA) and the clinical and metabolic findings of 66 patients with adult-onset diabetes mellitus (DM) manifested at 47.2±11.6 years with known duration of 14.3±8.4y were determined. RESULTS: ICA was positive in 10 cases (10 to 640 JDF U), 3 of them being also positive for anti-GAD (15.6 to 113.5 U/ml) and one for IAA (in those without previous insulin therapy). 15.2% of the patients had one or more autoantibodies, with greater prevalence for ICA. There were no differences between patients with and without autoantibodies for clinical DM presentation and prevalence of chronic complications. Only the cholesterol levels were lower in the antibody positive group (205.2±49.6 vs. 247.1±61.3mg/dl; p<0.05). CONCLUSION: 15.2% of the adult-onset DM had one or more autoantibodies, with greater prevalence for ICA. Autoantibodies determination is necessary for the diagnosis of autoimmune DM.
Autoantibodies; Type2 diabetes; LADA
