Fetuin A and Interleukin 8 in Children with Clinical Remission of Type 1 Diabetes

Background: Shortly after clinical diagnosis of type 1 diabetes (T1D), clinical partial remission (CPR) in most patients is observed. Increasing body weight and impaired insulin sensitivity may play a role in the pathogenesis of CPR. Several cytokines can also participate in the development of insulin resistance. Objective: To evaluate a relationship between birth weight and body mass index of children at the T1D onset, besides the concentrations of IL-8 and fetuin-A and the presence of clinical partial remission in the course of T1D. Methods: The study group consisted of 134 children with a newly diagnosed T1D in whom the presence of CPR in a further 2-year course of diabetes was evaluated. The control group included 47 children without glucose tolerance disorders. The concentrations of IL-8 and fetuin-A were determined by the ELISA method. Results: CPR occurred in 75.34% of T1D patients. At T1D onset, higher values of BMI SDS in the remitters as compared to the patients without remission were observed. At the T1D onset, the concentrations of fetuin-A (p=0.031) and IL-8 (p=0.042) were significantly higher in patients with compared to those without CPR. Conclusion: Evaluation of fetuin-A and IL-8 concentrations in patients with a newly diagnosed T1D can differentiate between patients with or without CPR. Maintenance of proper body weight in children with a newly diagnosed T1D may be the most important factor determining the incidence of clinical partial remission.