Islet Autoantibodies Signal Faster Diabetes Onset in Children with Pancreatitis: Study

Results

No age, sex, race, ethnic, BMI percent, or fasting glucose differences between the Ab+ and Ab− groups were evident. Within the Ab+ group, 54% had single Ab+, while 46% had multiple Ab+. The primary findings were as follows:

• Higher HbA1c within the Ab+ group (median 5.7% compared with 5.2%, P < 0.01).

• Lower levels of C-peptide within the Ab+ group (median 2.4 compared with 3.7 ng/mL, P = 0.01).

• Increased ratio of prediabetes/diabetes in the Ab+ group (57% vs. 32%, P < 0.001).

• Earlier time from initial acute pancreatitis episode to development of diabetes in the Ab+ group (P = 0.02).

Survival analysis indicated that children with islet Ab+ had a significantly shorter interval from the initial episode of acute pancreatitis to diabetes onset compared to Ab− children. This indicates that islet Ab+ is associated with β-cell dysfunction in this group of children.

The research concluded that islet Ab positivity in pediatric ARP/CP was linked to increased HbA1c, decreased levels of C-peptide, greater risk of type 1 diabetes development, and reduced time of diabetes onset. These results call for early diagnosis and follow-up of islet Ab in ARP/CP in children to intervene in diabetes risk efficiently.

Reference:

Gila Ginzburg, Lindsey Hornung, Lee Denson, Amy S. Shah, Sarah Swauger, Jonathan Tatum, Siobhan Tellez, Deborah Elder, Melena D. Bellin, Maisam Abu-El-Haija; Islet Autoantibodies and Their Association With β-Cell Function and Diabetes Measures in Children With Acute Recurrent and Chronic Pancreatitis. Diabetes Care 2025; dc242672. https://doi.org/10.2337/dc24-2672