[The role of coxsackie virus infection in the development of type 1 diabetes mellitus and its effect on the postinitial course of the disease in childhood].

The authors present the results of a three-year investigation of Coxsackie viruses in children diabetics. In paired serum samples of 66 newly diagnosed patients of virus neutralizing antibodies against eight types of Coxsackie viruses were estimated. Concurrently specific antibodies of class IgM were assessed and compared with a control group of 218 healthy children. Infection with Coxsackie viruses, in particular types B2, B4 and B5, were found in 38 diabetics (in 57.6%) as compared with 6% in healthy children. The findings indicate an evidence that diabetics with Coxsackie infection at the betics. The prospective three-year investigation provided evidence that diabetics with Coxsackie infection at the time of manifestation of the disease had a worse postinitial course. Their C-peptide levels were significantly lower (p less than 0.05). The frequency and intensity of partial remission were significantly worse in the group of diabetics who had just overcome a Coxsackie virus infection (p less than 0.02).