High prevalence of islet cell antibody and defective insulin release in children with schistosomiasis.

The importance of islet cell antibodies (ICA) as a predictor of insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) has been emphasized by several investigators since 1974. The ICA was also detected in patients with various immune-mediated diseases such as auto-immune thyroiditis. Schistosomiasis is a wide-spread helminthic disease which affects more than 200 million patients all over the world. Immunological abnormalities and pancreatic affection are features of the disease. We studied the prevalence of ICA in 40 children with schistosomiasis (20 males and 20 females), 14 children with IDDM, and 30 of the non-diabetic siblings of patients with IDDM, and evaluated the oral glucose tolerance and early release of insulin after an i.v. load of glucose in children with schistosomiasis, diabetics' siblings, and 10 normal age-matched controls. The age of onset of IDDM and duration of the disease were 6.5 +/- 2.3 and 4.1 +/- 1.2, respectively, and the age of onset and duration of schistosomiasis were 8.3 +/- 2.7 and 2.5 +/- 1.5 years, respectively. Sex, consanguinity, history of previous virus diseases (mumps, measles and rubella), and sex maturity rating did not differ among the three study groups; however, children with schistosomiasis were significantly older. The prevalence of ICA was 50 per cent in children with IDDM, 13 per cent in the diabetics' siblings, and 25 per cent of children with schistosomiasis. Glucose tolerance was normal in children with schistosomiasis and diabetics' siblings. Early release of insulin after i.v. glucose load was significantly lower in children with schistosomiasis compared to the other two groups. In conclusion, the high prevalence of ICA and the decreased early release of insulin in response to an i.v. glucose load in children with schistosomiasis suggest that auto-immune aggression against the islet cells contributes in the pathogenesis of pancreatic disease in these patients, and might increase the risk for developing glucose intolerance and diabetes.