Insulin antibodies in the serum of diabetic children treated from the diagnosis of the disease with highly purified insulins.

Fifty-one diabetic children, treated with highly purified, porcine insulins from the diagnosis of the disease were studied for the development of insulin antibodies during the first years of treatment. Sera were obtained before the start of treatment and at repeated intervals thereafter. Serum insulin antibodies were measured by three methods in three laboratories. Twenty-nine children were treated with R.I. (rare immunogenic) insulins at one department and 22 with MC (monocomponent) insulins at the other department. Before the start of treatment, serum insulin antibodies were almost invariably zero or below the limit of detection. During the first year a considerable number of cases, more than that reported for adults, formed detectable amounts of antibodies, and more so in the R.I. than in the MC series. The levels were however definitely lower than those observed with the same methods in diabetic children on conventional insulins. Analysis of variance showed no differences between the various age groups. No significant correlation was found between the highest titre of serum insulin antibodies on the one hand and insulin dose or glucosuria on the other hand. The results confirm the concept that children form antibodies to insulin more actively than adults.