Lower serum level of anti-tetanus toxin antibodies in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Aim : to evaluate the serum levels of anti-tetanus toxin antibodies (anti-TTA) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and in a control group. Methods: totally, 100 patients with type 2 DM and 100 age-and sex-matched healthy individuals were enrolled to study. The presence of type 2 DM confirmed according to the clinical and para-clinical criteria such as fasting plasma glucose above 126 mg/dl. A peripheral blood sample was collected from all subjects. The serum samples of participants tested for the levels of anti-TTA by ELISA method. The serum antitoxin concentration ≥0.1 IU/mL was considered as a protective level of antibody. Results : the seroprotective rate in healthy group was significantly higher than diabetic group (99% vs. 92%; p 40 years was also lower in comparison to those with age 5 years (3.91±0.35 IU/ml vs 2.85±0.38 IU/ml; p 40 years and in diabetic patients with disease duration >5 years . Key words : immunity, tetanus, antibody, type 2 diabetes.