Correlation between auto-immune diseases and type 1 diabetes mellitus in the pediatric age group in Erbil city

Background and objective: Type-1 diabetes mellitus is the most common chronic endocrine disorder of childhood and adolescence and is characterized by immune-mediated destruction of pancreatic cells, which has been proven to be correlated with and increase the risk of developing autoimmune thyroid disease, celiac disease, Addison’s disease, and further autoimmune diseases. The aim of this study is to evaluate the prevalence of autoimmune disease-related markers in type 1 diabetes mellitus in children and adolescents in Erbil city. Methods: One hundred children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Patients <1 year old were excluded from the study. Autoimmune thyroid antibodies (anti-thyroid peroxidase and anti-thyroglobulin) along with tissue transglutaminase (IgA and IgG) antibodies were measured with further evaluation by thyroid function test and endoscopy with biopsy (for positive serological autoantibodies level). Results: Elevated anti-thyroglobulin, anti-thyroid peroxidase, and tissue transglutaminase IgA and IgG antibodies were determined in 24.0%, 26%, 10%, and 8%, respectively. 50.0% of cases with positive anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies had overt hypothyroidism; on the flip side, 3.8% had subclinical hypothyroidism. As well, the high level of thyroid autoantibodies was significantly correlated to the prevalence of overt hypothyroidism (P <0.001). Nine of the patients with positive tissue transglutaminase antibodies were verified to have biopsy-proven celiac disease. Conclusion: Children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus are at risk of developing positive antithyroid and celiac-related autoantibodies, so they are at risk of progressing to autoimmune thyroid and celiac diseases.