Triad of markers for identifying children at high risk of developing insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

A longitudinal investigation was conducted from 1977 to 1984 on 178 families in which one or more of the children had insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Of 351 nondiabetic sibs followed up for an average of 54 months, ten have, thus far, become diabetic. Eight sibs were HLA identical to their diabetic proband and nine had HLA-DR3 and/or HLA-DR4. Islet cell surface antibody and islet cell cytoplasmic antibody were found from two to 74 months before the onset of clinical diabetes in 100% and 90%, respectively, of the children. A decrease in insulin secretion was observed in all of these children on entry into the study and was detected in the absence of elevated plasma glucose concentrations. The data suggest that the triad of HLA identity, pancreatic islet cell antibodies, and depressed insulin secretion identifies those sibs who are at high risk of developing insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.