[Viral etiology of insulin-dependent diabetes (author's transl)].

Data are collected here that may support the hypothesis that there is an infectious component in the genesis of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. The clinical and experimental data on which that hypothesis is based referring to viruses such as: mumps virus, rubella virus, encephalomyocarditis virus, and Coxsackie B viruses, are presented. The authors mention the pathogenic mechanism, which extends over the existence of diabetogenic genes linked to the major complex of the histocompatibility HLA system, as well as the existence of an autoimmune reaction induced by the infecting virus. This review shows up the large gaps that exist in the accurate knowledge we have about the possible infectious etiology of diabetes. However, it also offers different pathogenic possibilities for further experimental investigations on bases that are reasonably scientifically consistent.