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Regression of autoimmunity and abnormal glucose homeostasis in an adolescent boy with silent coeliac disease
Author(s) -
Banin P,
Perretta R,
Ravaioli E,
Sanctis V
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
acta pædiatrica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1651-2227
pISSN - 0803-5253
DOI - 10.1111/j.1651-2227.2002.tb00115.x
Subject(s) - medicine , coeliac disease , autoimmunity , autoantibody , type 1 diabetes , diabetes mellitus , gluten free , autoimmune disease , immunology , endocrinology , glucose homeostasis , immunopathology , disease , antibody , insulin resistance
We report on a 15‐y‐old adolescent boy affected by silent coeliac disease, abnormalities in glycoregulation and with autoantibodies specific to diabetes mellitus type I (ICA: islet cell antibodies) and GAD 65 (autoantibodies against glutamic acid decarboxylase), in whom normalization of glycoregulation and disappearance of the immunological markers of pre‐diabetes were observed after 6 mo on a gluten‐free diet. The patient was followed‐up for 36 mo and showed a normal insulin response to an intravenous glucose tolerance test and no markers of autoimmunity. It is possible that undiagnosed coeliac disease over a long period could lead to a direct autoimmune mechanism against pancreatic β cells. Conclusion : Our findings seem to confirm the theory that undiagnosed coeliac disease can induce an autoimmune process against the pancreatic β cells and that, following a gluten‐free diet, the immunological markers for diabetes mellitus type 1 will disappear.