Background: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of diabetes and other organ-specific autoantibodies (Ab) associated with various autoimmune conditions, in Polish children with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Methods: In this study 114 patients, aged 13.4 years, with mean diabetes duration 5.2 years were included. Ab to islet cell antigens: glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD), insulinoma antigen 2 (IA-2), zinc transporter 8 (ZnT8), together with thyroid peroxidase Ab (TPO Ab), thyroglobulin Ab (Tg Ab), tissue transglutaminase Ab (tTG Ab) and 21-hydroxylase Ab (21-OH Ab) were measured. Results: The prevalence of at least one diabetes associated Ab was found in 87%, with the highest prevalence of 64% for ZnT8 Ab. In patients with disease duration < 5 years, at least one antibody was present in 90%, the most prevalent was ZnT8 Ab (72%). In patients with duration > 10 years, 50% had at least one antibody. The prevalence of other than islet cell autoimmunity was high (34%). Thyroid Ab were detected in 26% patients, 42% in girls vs. 8% in boys, p < 0.001. tTG Ab were found in 11% patients, with a greater prevalence in children with early onset (p = 0.01). 21-OH Ab were found in 2.6% T1DM patients.

Background Zinc transporter 8 autoantibodies (ZnT8Abs) together with glutamic acid decarboxylase autoantibodies (GADAbs), insulinoma antigen 2 autoantibodies (IA-2Abs) and insulin autoantibodies (IAbs) are markers of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). We studied the prevalence of ZnT8Ab in children with autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITDs) to assess the association of AITDs and T1DM at the serological level. Methods The study groups consisted of 44 children with Graves’ disease (GD), 65 children with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT), 199 children with T1DM with or without AITDs and 58 control children. ZnT8Ab, GADAb, IA-2Ab, IAb, 21-hydroxylase autoantibodies (21-OHAbs) and acetylcholine receptor autoantibodies (AChRAbs) were measured. Results ZnT8Abs were found in 4/44 (9.1%) patients with GD, and 4/44 (9.1%) patients with GD were positive for GADAb. Of the 65 HT patients, six (9.2%) were positive for ZnT8Ab, while four (6.2%) were positive for GADAb. In the T1DM group, 128/199 (64%) of the patients were positive for ZnT8Ab, 133/199 (67%) for GADAb and 109/199 (55%) for IA-2Ab. One GD patient and one HT patient were positive for all the four diabetes-associated autoantibodies. Two HT patients were positive for three diabetes autoantibodies. Two GD (4.5%) and five HT (7.7%) patients were positive for 21-OHAb only. None of the patients had AChRAb. In the control group, 2/58 (3.4%) were positive for GADAb and 2/58 (3.4%) were positive for ZnT8Ab. Conclusions Diabetes-associated autoantibodies including ZnT8Ab were found in children and adolescents with GD and HT.

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ObjectivesHypoparathyroidism is a rare disease in children that occurs as a result of autoimmune destruction of the parathyroid glands, a defect in parathyroid gland development or secondary to physical parathyroid gland disturbance. Typical symptoms of hypoparathyroidism present as hypocalcaemia and hyperphosphatemia due to decreased parathyroid hormone secretion and may lead to nerve and muscles disturbances resulting in clinical manifestation of tetany, arrhythmias and epilepsy. Currently, there is no conventional hormone replacement treatment for hypoparathyroidism and therapeutic approaches include normalising mineral levels using an oral calcium supplement and active forms of vitamin D.Case presentationWe present the case of a 10-year-old girl with primary hypoparathyroidism who had no prior history of autoimmune disorders, but who subsequently developed systemic lupus erythematosus.