Combined measurements of GAD65 and ICA512 antibodies in acute onset and slowly progressive IDDM.

Autoantibodies to 65 kD glutamic acid decarboxylase (GADAA) and ICA512 (ICA512AA) were measured by radioimmunoassays using as antigens in vitro transcribed and translated [35S]-methionine-labeled human GAD65 and ICA512 (IA-2). The prevalence of GADAA and ICA512AA in sera from 87 patients with IDDM was 39 and 23%, respectively. The frequency and titer of ICA512AA declined sharply within 5 years after the onset of IDDM. Among patients tested within 4 years after diagnosis, the prevalence of ICA512AA was significantly higher in acute onset IDDM than in slowly progressive IDDM (37 versus 6%, P < 0.025) irrespective of age, while there was no difference in GADAA frequency between acute onset and slowly progressive subtypes (51 versus 63%). A total of two patients out of 121 patients with NIDDM were positive for GADAA, and two other NIDDM patients, who were suffering from sarcoidosis, were positive for ICA512AA. Neither of the antibodies were positive in sera from four atypical NIDDM patients, aged < 20 years, who showed ketosis at onset and required insulin followed by excellent metabolic control with diet restriction alone. These observations suggest that ICA512AA are associated with rapid progression of beta cell damage in IDDM. ICA512 radioassay, in combination with GAD assay may provide a useful diagnostic marker for IDDM especially in youth.