Value of detection of glutamic acid decarboxylase antibodies in patients with diabetes mellitus

Objective To investigate the detection rate of glutamic acid decarboxylase ( GAD )antibodies in patients with diabetes and the diagnostic value of the rate for typing diabetes.Methods Levels of GAD antibodies were detected in 98 patients with diabetes and 20 healthy controls by enzymelinked immunosorbent assay.The detection rate was documented in group with T1DM,non-obesity group with T2DM, obesity group with T2DM, and control group.The positive rate of GAD-Ab or ICA was compared among the four group and the GAD-Ab and ICA co-positive rate was also compared.Results The detection rate of GAD-Ab was 70.0％ in the group with T1DM,6.3％ in the non-obesity group with T2DM,5.6％ in the obesity group with T2DM; and that of ICA was 68％,8.8％,and 7.2％,respectively.The detection rate differed significantly between the groups with diabetes and the control group ( P＜ 0.01 )and between the group with T1DM and the two groups with T2DM ( P ＜ 0.05 ); while it did not differ significantly between the non-obesity group with T2DM and the obesity group with T2DM ( P ＞ 0.05 ).Conclusions Glutamic acid decarboxylase antibody is a marker of β-cell dysfunction in the natural course of type 1 diabetes mellitus.It is of significance in predicting,typing and treating diabetes mellitus,and estimating prognosis. Key words: Glutamic acid decarboxylase antibody; Islet cell antibody; Diabetes mellitus