Spectrum of Autoantibodies in Tunisian Adult Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

As an autoimmune disease, type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is characterized by the presence of several autoantibodies. The aim of this study was to examine a broad spectrum of antibodies in Tunisian adult T1DM and to compare their prevalence with a healthy control group. Two hundred sixty-one diabetics and 100 healthy blood donors were enrolled in this study. Indirect immunofluorescence was performed for the detection of islet cell, antiendomysial, antinuclear, antimitochondrial, antismooth muscle, antireticulin, and antikeratin antibodies. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used for measuring anticardiolipin, antigliadin, antitransglutaminase, and antithyroperoxidase antibodies. Latex agglutination was used for the detection of rheumatoid factors. As expected, islet cell antibodies were the most frequent (33.7%). Antigliadin, antithyroperoxidase, and antikeratin antibodies were relatively frequent (18%, 15.3%, and 10.3%, respectively) and were statistically more prevalent in diabetics than in controls. There was no correlation between diabetes duration and any autoantibody, except for islet cell antibodies that were more frequent at the onset of diabetes. Several autoantibodies nonspecific of diabetes are frequent in diabetic patients, which may be associated with or predictors of some autoimmune diseases, and can also reflect a special profile of autoimmunity in diabetics in comparison to healthy controls.