Serum antibodies to collagen type IV and development of diabetic vascular complications in children with type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus: A longitudinal study

Abstract Thickening of basement membrane in capillaries and small vessels is a well-known finding and important in the progression of diabetic microangiopathy. To monitor the metabolism of the basement membrane protein collagen type IV (CIV) in diabetes mellitus, serum levels of IgG, IgM and IgA to CIV were measured using an ELISA method in 28 children with Type 1 diabetes mellitus over a period of 6 years. These values were compared to serum antibodies to CIV in 24 age- and sex-matched controls. At the end of the study, 11 children had diabetic microangiopathy. IgG to CIV was associated with age ( r =.33, P =.026), diabetes duration ( r =.32, P =.021), HbA1c ( r =.31, P =.019), microalbuminuria ( r =.32, P =.022) and anti-AGE antibodies ( r =.47, P =.0007). IgM to CIV correlated with age ( r =.46, P =.001), diabetes duration ( r =.45, P =.001), HbA1c ( r =.26, P =.038) and anti-AGE antibodies ( r =.26, P =.038) and IgA to CIV with triglycerides ( r =.29, P =.038) and anti-AGE antibodies ( r =.44, P =.0025). We suggest that serum levels of IgG to CIV can be used as a marker for the development of diabetic microalbuminuria.