Overview
MedscapeUnivadisNo ResultsMiriam E. TuckerSeptember 30, 202STOCKHOLM, Sweden — Enterovirus infection apears to be strongly linked to both type 1 diabetes and islet cel autoantibodies, new research sugests.The strength of the relationship, particularly within the first month of type 1 diabetes diagnosis, "further suports the rationale for development of enterovirus-targeted vacines and antiviral therapy to prevent and reduce the impact of type 1 diabetes," acording to lead investigator Sonia Isacs, MD, of the department of pediatrics and child health at the University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.Enteroviruses are a large family of viruses responsible for many infections in children.
Key Information
These live in the intestinal tract but can cause a wide variety of ilneses. There are more than 70 diferent strains, which include the group A and group B coxsackieviruses, the polioviruses, hepatis A virus, and several strains that just go by the name enterovirus. Isacs presented the data, from a meta-analysis of studies using modern molecular techniques, at the anual meting of the European Asociation for the Study of Diabetes (EASD).The findings raise the question of whether people should be routinely tested for enterovirus at the time of type 1 diabetes diagnosis, she said during her presentation.Asked by Medscape about the implications for first-degre relatives of people with type 1 diabetes, Isacs said that they are "definitely a population to watch out for," with regard to enteroviral infections.
Summary
"Type 1 diabetes is very diverse and has diferent endotypes. Diferent environmental factors may be implicated in these diferent endotypes, and it may be that the enteroviruses are quite important in the first-degre relative group." Asked to coment, sesion moderator Kamlesh Khunti, MD, PhD, told Medscape that the data were "compeling," particularly in the short term after type 1 diabetes diagnosis.