Research of anti-GAD and anti-IA2 autoantibodies by ELISA test in a series of Moroccan pediatric patients with diabetes type 1

Introduction: Type I diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease with a prediabetic, asymptomatic period characterized by the selective destruction of insulin-producing β cells. During the pre-clinical phase, various auto-antibodies are generated against several beta cell antigens such as anti glutamate acid decarboxylase (Anti-GAD), anti tyrosine phosphatase (Anti-IA2). Today, the coupled detection of Anti-IA2 with that of Anti-GAD proves its great importance in the diagnosis and prediction of type 1 diabetes. The combined positivity for both antibodies has a specificity and a positive predictive value of 100%. Objectives: In this work, we evaluate the diagnostic value of anti-GAD and anti-IA2 antibodies in a series based on 78 Moroccan subjects initially under 16, suspected T1D. Results and Discussion: Our series consists mainly of 74% of newly diagnosed patients for T1D and 26% of confirmed diagnostic patients, of whom 52% are females. The mean age of diagnosis is 7 ± 4 years, the mean of HbA1c at the time of diagnosis is 11.63 ± 2.16%, and the percentage of family history in our series is 69%. The proportion of positive results for anti-IA2 antibodies and anti-GAD antibodies are, respectively, 76.92% and 62.82%, and 52.56% of patients are positive for both auto-antibodies. This study confirms that anti-GAD and anti-IA2 auto-antibodies assays can detect patients early and the autoantibodies can persist several years after diagnosis of type 1 diabetes. Conclusion: This study confirmed the diagnosis and classification of T1D (type 1A) in 87.18% of patients, and we reported that the prevalence of anti-GAD and anti-IA2 is higher in girls than in boys. Keywords: Type 1 diabetes; autoimmunity; autoantibodies; anti-GAD; anti-IA2; ELISA; classification.