Combinations of Beta Cell Specific Autoantibodies at Diagnosis of Diabetes in Young Adults Reflects Different Courses of Beta Cell Damage

To explore the natural course of beta cell function in recent onset diabetes, a subgroup (n=157) of all incident cases (n=879) 15-34 years old, 1992-1993 in Sweden, and with posi-tivity for at least one autoantibody of islet cell antibodies (ICA), glutamic acid decarboxylase antibodies (GADA) or tyrosine phosphatase antibodies (IA-2A) were followed prospectively for the first four years with annual analysis of C-peptide. The aim was to relate the course of beta cell function, measured as C-peptide, in early diabetes with the presence of different islet autoantibodies at diagnosis. We found that patients positive for ICA alone (n=11) had significantly higher C-peptide levels both at diagnosis and during the first three years compared with the other patients (n=146; p=0.022, p