Report of the Japan Diabetes Society's Committee on Research on Fulminant Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: Analysis of Antiviral Antibodies at Disease Onset

Abstract

Hypothesis/aim: The pathogenesis of fulminant type 1 diabetes remains unknown, but abrupt onset and frequent flu-like symptoms at onset suggest the involvement of viral infection. We determined the titer of antiviral antibodies at fulminant type 1 diabetes onset.
Subjects and methods: Subjects were 55 patients with fulminant type 1 diabetes registered with the committee of the Japan Diabetes Society and whose sera at onset were available. The antibodies measured were: parainfluenza virus type 1-3, rotavirus, coxsackie virus type A2-A7, A9-10, A16, B1-B6, cytomegalovirus, EB virus, and human herpes virus (HHV) 6 and 7.
Results: Viral antibody elevation was observed in 11 antibodies in 7 of 38 patients in whom paired sera were available, i.e. coxsackie virus type A4, A5, A6 and B1 in one patient, and rotavirus in 2 patients. Ig-M of cytomegalovirus was positive in 1 patient and EB virus and HHV6 in one patient. Ig-G of HHV6 and HHV7 increased in one patient. Cytomegalovirus Ig-M elevation was observed in 2 of 17 patients in whom paired sera were not available.
Conclusion: Antibody titers to viruses were elevated at disease onset in some fulminant type 1 diabetes patients.