Abstract
Monocomponent insulin (MC insulin) was evaluated by comparing its antigenicity with that of conventional insulin in diabetics under various conditions, such as the presence of insulin allergy, newly diagnosed insulin dependent cases, or diabetics undr long term treatmert with conventional insulin.
In the course of MC insulin treatment of patients, the antigenicity was estimated by the change of insulin binding antibody and the insulin requirement.
No immunogenic effect was observed in the newly diagnosed diabetics during 6-12 month MC insulin treatment.
In 66.7 per cent of the long-term treated diabetics who had switched to MC insulin from conventional insulin, antibody levels showed a tendency to decrease (5-31%; mean 16.6%) but did not reach normal levels.
In other diabetics, antibody levels either did not change or showed a slight increase (4 %).
All insulin allergy disappeared after switching to MC insulin treatment.
In 88.9 per cent of the long-term treated diabetics after switching to MC insulin, the insulin requirement showed a tendency to decrease (4-28 U/day ; mean 16.5 U/day).
We suggest that MC insulin may be less antigenic than conventional insulin and more effective for the treatment of insulin resistant diabetics and diabetics allergic to insulin.
