Abstract
The prevalence of serum antibodies to the cytoplasm of the pancreatic islet cell (PICA), and of thyroid microsomal (TMA), gastric parietal cell (GPCA) and anti-nuclear (ANA) antibodies was studied in 135 newly diagnosed diabetics presenting to a hospital for adults and 83 children with recent onset diabetes presenting to a children's hospital. The study also included another 144 diabetic children whose disease had been present longer, and 200 control children. There was a high prevalence (87%) of PICA in the children whose diabetes had just been diagnosed in comparison with control children (1%):(P <.0001). Diabetic children also had a high prevalence (21%) of one or more of the other autoantibodies in comparison with the control children (9%):(P <.001). Only 26% of the 58 insulin dependent adults had PICA but 33% had other autoantibodies. Two (3%) of the 77 adult diabetics who did not require insulin had PICA; 8% had other autoantibodies.