Get ahead of the disease: Islet cell autoimmunity and preclinical phase of type 1 diabetes in general population of 1–9 year‐old children in the north‐eastern region of Poland —A summary of the first 18 months of the study

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AIMS: Assessment of islet autoimmunity and presymptomatic type 1 diabetes (T1D) among children from the general population of North-Eastern Poland. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Venous blood samples have been collected from 3575 children aged 1-9 years and analysed in a stepwise procedure starting with 3 Screen Islet Cell Autoantibody ELISA and IAA ELISA. Next, samples found positive in either test were verified for individual autoantibodies. Children with confirmed islet cell autoimmunity were invited for the follow-up consisting of laboratory testing, metabolic staging and education. RESULTS: Among tested children detailed antibody testing confirmed islet cell autoimmunity in 7.78% participants and 1.17% of the total number presented multiple positive islet autoantibodies (IAb). IAAs were the most frequently reported (50.75%), while IA-2As were the least frequent (8.4%). IAAs were observed more frequently in individuals with T1D family history (p = 0.04), and in children aged 1-3 years (p = 0.02). The frequency of IA2-As and ZnT8As increased with age (p = 0.035 and p = 0.02) and ZnT8As were observed more frequently in females (p = 0.024). The prevalence of multiple positive IAbs was almost 2.5-times higher in children with T1D family history than in other peers. One hundred and thirteen children participated in follow-up. Within individuals with dysglycaemia almost 67% presented a single autoantibody and two participants (1.77%) presented Stage 3 diabetes - both diagnosed before DKA occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Results confirm the importance of screening for IAbs in general paediatric population as a method of prediction of T1D development. The study also shows that patients with a single positive islet autoantibody may have already developed dysglycaemia and therefore need monitoring.