Autoantibodies and HLA class II DR-DQ genotypes in Ugandan children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus

The aims were to determine the prevalence of autoantibodies in type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and further to investigate the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II DR-DQ genotypes associated with T1DM in Ugandan children and adolescents. Cross-sectional data were collected between January and December 2015 from 85 recently detected T1DM children and adolescents and 79 age-matched healthy controls. We measured serum concentrations of C-peptide, vitamin D, insulin autoantibodies (IAA), zinc transporter family member 8 antibodies (ZnT8-Ab), and glutamic acid decarboxylase autoantibodies (GADA). HLA-DBR1 and HLA-DQB1 typing was performed on EDTA-anticoagulated blood samples. The t test, chi-square test, and univariate logistic test were performed and multivariate logistic regression model fitted to identify associated factors of T1DM. Positive IAA and ZnT8-Ab were significantly higher in T1DM than in controls. GADA showed no difference between TIDM and controls. HLA-DQB1*02, unadjusted odds ratio (UOR) 4.2 (95% CI 1.4–12.7), and HLA-DBR1*04, adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 30.6 (95% CI 5.7–161.7), were significantly associated with T1DM. IAA and ZnT8-Ab are the likely significant positive antibodies in Ugandan children and adolescents with T1DM. The T1DM was associated with HLA-DQB1*02 and HLA-DBR1*04 (HLA-DR3 and HLA-DR4) genotypes.