Introduction:

Anti-insulin autoantibodies (AAI) represent a serological marker of type 1 diabetes (T1D). The clinical significance of AAIs has not yet been determined in the Cuban population.

Objective:

To determine the clinical value of AAI in patients with T1D.

Methods:

AAI serum levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 33 adult patients with T1D, 78 patients with other endocrine conditions (CEE) such as type 2 diabetes, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, and hyperinsulinemia, and 49 normal controls (CN). The cut-off value was determined by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Nonparametric tests were used to compare the AAI levels of patients with T1D, CEE, and CN, and to determine the correlation between AAI and age.

Results:

AAI optimal cut-off value for T1D was the index of 1.05, with 45.5% of sensitivity, 81.6% specificity, 2.47 positive likelihood ratio, and 0.67 negative likelihood ratio. AAI levels in DT1 (index of 0.97) were significant, higher than those of CN (index of 0.70; p= 0.020) and CEE levels (index of 0.63; p= 0.009). AAI levels were inversely proportional to age in diabetic patients (ρ = -0.252; p=0.030).

Conclusions:

Patients with T1D were distinguished by AAI higher levels, although the presence of these antibodies was not exclusive to T1D. AAI levels depended on age in diabetic patients.

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