Evaluation of autoimmune diseases in pediatric patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus

Aim: The incidence of other autoimmune diseases is higher in Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM).Autoimmune thyroiditis and celiac disease often accompany T1DM.The aim of this study was to determine how frequently autoimmune thyroiditis and celiac disease occur at the time of diagnosis and during follow-up in T1DM pediatric patients.Material and Methods: Sixty pediatric patients were included in the study.As laboratory parameters, thyroid function tests (fT4, TSH), Anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody (a-TPO), serum thyroglobulin antibody (a-TG), tissue transglutaminase antibodies (TGA), islet cell antibody, anti insulin antibodies and HbA1c levels were evaluated.Results: The average diabetes duration of the patients was 3.8 3.2 years and the mean HbA1c value was 9.02% 2.18.In the T1DM cases, 36 of the 60 patients (60%) tested positive for any of the DM antibodies.TPO antibodies were found to be positive in 18 of the 60 patients (30%).Of these 18 patients, 15 were female (83.3%) and 3 were male (16.7%).TPO antibody positivity was statistically higher in females.All patients with positive TPO antibodies were diagnosed with autoimmune thyroiditis.TG antibodies were found to be positive in 9 of the 60 patients (15%), 8 of whom were female (88.8%) and 1 was male (11.2%).Tissue transglutaminase IgA antibodies were positive in 6 of the 60 patients (10%).Three of these patients (all of whom were female) were diagnosed with celiac disease.Discussion: Our study suggested that children diagnosed with type 1 diabetes should be followed up in terms of autoimmune thyroiditis and celiac disease.