Autoimmune profile in insulin dependent diabetes mellitus at Kenyatta National Hospital

Abstract

131 patients with IDDM attending K.N.H. were studied. The mean age of onset of IDDM was 20.1 years. There was a male predominance with M:F ratio of 1.4:1 There was a low prevalence of IDDM among first degree relatives of diabetic probands. Definitive history of viral infection preceding the onset of IDDM was found in one patient. None of the patients had thryroglobulin antibodies; thyroid microsomal antibodies were found in 0.7% of the patients. Parietal cell antibodies were found in 4.6% of the patients. Islet cell antibodies were found in 3.7% of patients with IDDM.· The prevalence of autoantibodies in Kenyan Africans with IDDM is much lower when compared with Caucasians and Black Americans with IDDM. In view of the low prevalence of autoantibodies in Kenyan Africans with IDDM, primary autoimmune diabetes mellitus is considered rare in Kenyan Africans with IDDM.