Prevalence of autoantibodies in type 1 diabetes patients and its association with the clinical presentation - UAE Eastern Region experience.

Background: Positive autoantibodies and its association with the clinical course of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) have been reported worldwide, however, no such data have been reported in United Arab Emirates population. Objectives: To study the prevalence of positive autoantibodies in T1DM pediatric patients and its association with the clinical presentation. Methods: Descriptive retrospective chart review of all new cases of pediatric T1DM at Tawam Hospital. Electronic patient records accessed to obtain data. Results: 61 patients were identified. 88%+/-8.1 had at least 1 positive antibody and 82% of all patients were positive for anti-glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD). While comparing the group of any positive antibody (n=54) with the group of all negative antibodies (n=7), a significant difference was found in the mean HbA1C (p=0.02) and nationality (p=0.03). Conclusion: The vast majority of our T1DM pediatric patients are autoantibody positive, and anti-GAD antibodies were the most commonly detected antibodies.