Islet Autoantibodies Positivity Associated With Faster Diabetes Development Among Pediatric Patients With Acute Recurrent And Chronic Pancreatitis, Study Finds

Endocrinology Advisor (5/13, Goldberg) reports a study found that “islet autoantibodies (auto-Ab) positivity is associated with faster diabetes development and β-cell dysfunction among children with acute recurrent pancreatitis (ARP) and chronic pancreatitis (CP).” Researchers noted a “significant difference in the proportion of patients who had their first acute pancreatitis attack prior to islet testing between Ab-positive and Ab-negative groups (88% vs 98%; P =.02), although the severity of the first acute pancreatitis attack was similar between groups (mild, 56% vs 62%; moderate, 11% vs 17%; severe, 33% vs 21%).” Researchers concluded, “In children with ARP/CP, [Ab-positivity] was associated with higher risk of diabetes/diabetes development, and shorter time to diabetes development, suggesting that islet [Ab-positivity] is associated with β-cell dysfunction in this patient cohort.” The study was published in Diabetes Care.