Abstract
In insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), there is a high incidence of islet cell surface antibodies (ICSA), but the significance of this phenomenon is not clear.
We examined ICSA in patients with autoimmune thyroid disease, comprising 20 patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) with coexisting Graves disease, 12 with autoimmune thyroid disease with a high titer of thyroid microsomal antibodies (>102400) and 20 with autoimmune thyroid disease with a low titer of thyroid microsomal antibodies (<25600).ICSA were examined by the indirect immunofluorescence method. BALB/C mouse pancreases were used as the antigen.
ICSA were detected in one patient with NIDDM with coexisting Graves disease, in 4 with autoimmune thyroid disease (thyroid microsomal antibodies>102400), but in none of the patients with autoimune thyroid disease (thyroid microsomal antibodies<25600).
These results suggest that the appearance of ICSA is related to the abnormal immune mechanism of the patients. It has been reported that several types of autoantibody are produced in some organ specific autoimmune diseases. ICSA may be an antibody of such type.
