[Mumps - risk for the manifestation of insulin-dependent (type I) diabetes mellitus?].

A series of findings of animal experiments as well as epidemiological and clinical observation speak for the fact that viral infections may play a part as trigger mechanism within the etiopathogenesis of type I diabetes mellitus. Directly or via immune and/or autoimmune processes viruses might start a beta-cell-destructing process. A mumps infection is most frequently brought in connection with a diabetes manifestation. The attempt of a critical valuation of the arguments for a viral etiology of the type I diabetes mellitus is made. Including first preliminary results of the own working team, the authors get the opinion that at present it is not without doubt to prove a causal connection between mumps infection and the development of a type I diabetes mellitus. Prospective investigations including humoral and cellular immune phenomena in relation to the beta-cell-destructing process are to be demanded.