Which children are most likely to progress to type 1 diabetes?
For those with multiple autoantibodies, the risk varies markedly, say researchers
The risk of developing type 1 diabetes in children with multiple islet autoantibodies depends greatly on which combinations of autoantibodies they have, their age and metabolic factors, a US-led study shows.
The results show that even having three autoantibodies does not necessarily mean a child or young adult will progress to having the disease, the authors say.
The study used data from selected participants in the Type 1 Diabetes TrialNet Pathway to Prevention cohort, which follows close relatives of people with the disease, including Australians.
Data from 1815 participants (mean age 12) from this cohort who had screened positive for two or more islet autoantibodies were used in the current study, with only 253 aged over 18.
