REMISSION PERIOD IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS WITH TYPE 1 DIABETES

Abstract

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) is characterized by a progressive autoimmune destruction of pancreatic beta cells, process that can be influenced by clinical and metabolic factors. The objective was to identify those factors that might influence residual pancreatic beta cell function and installation of remission period.

The study was performed on a group of 56 cases, aged between 2 and 18 years, who were evaluated for their clinical characteristics, frequency and duration of remission, factors that influence remission phase. Remission period was defined as a requirement of insulin < 0.5 U/kg/day. There was partial remission in 25 cases (44.6%), gender repartition was 11 boys: 14 girls. Remission was present in 17 cases (68%) within the first 3 months after the diagnosis of DM was established. Duration of remission ranged from 2 to 24 months. Young children aged between 2 and 5 years have shown partial remission periods in a much lower percentage (28%) than school-age children between 6 and 12 years (72%). At the onset of diabetes, 13 cases (52%) had mild form of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and 10 cases (40%) had moderate form of DKA. The results have shown that both age and severe symptoms at onset were associated with a greater destruction of pancreatic beta cells and a low rate of remission phase.