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Islet autoantibodies as precision diagnostic tools to characterize heterogeneity in type 1 diabetes: a systematic review

Felton, J.L. ; Ahmad, A. LU orcid ; Dudenhöffer-Pfeifer, M. LU ; Fitipaldi, H. LU ; Pomares-Millan, H. LU orcid ; Gomez, M.F. LU orcid ; Franks, P.W. LU and Sims, Emily K. (2024) In Communications medicine 4(1).
Abstract
Background: Islet autoantibodies form the foundation for type 1 diabetes (T1D) diagnosis and staging, but heterogeneity exists in T1D development and presentation. We hypothesized that autoantibodies can identify heterogeneity before, at, and after T1D diagnosis, and in response to disease-modifying therapies. Methods: We systematically reviewed PubMed and EMBASE databases (6/14/2022) assessing 10 years of original research examining relationships between autoantibodies and heterogeneity before, at, after diagnosis, and in response to disease-modifying therapies in individuals at-risk or within 1 year of T1D diagnosis. A critical appraisal checklist tool for cohort studies was modified and used for risk of bias assessment. Results: Here we... (More)
Background: Islet autoantibodies form the foundation for type 1 diabetes (T1D) diagnosis and staging, but heterogeneity exists in T1D development and presentation. We hypothesized that autoantibodies can identify heterogeneity before, at, and after T1D diagnosis, and in response to disease-modifying therapies. Methods: We systematically reviewed PubMed and EMBASE databases (6/14/2022) assessing 10 years of original research examining relationships between autoantibodies and heterogeneity before, at, after diagnosis, and in response to disease-modifying therapies in individuals at-risk or within 1 year of T1D diagnosis. A critical appraisal checklist tool for cohort studies was modified and used for risk of bias assessment. Results: Here we show that 152 studies that met extraction criteria most commonly characterized heterogeneity before diagnosis (91/152). Autoantibody type/target was most frequently examined, followed by autoantibody number. Recurring themes included correlations of autoantibody number, type, and titers with progression, differing phenotypes based on order of autoantibody seroconversion, and interactions with age and genetics. Only 44% specifically described autoantibody assay standardization program participation. Conclusions: Current evidence most strongly supports the application of autoantibody features to more precisely define T1D before diagnosis. Our findings support continued use of pre-clinical staging paradigms based on autoantibody number and suggest that additional autoantibody features, particularly in relation to age and genetic risk, could offer more precise stratification. To improve reproducibility and applicability of autoantibody-based precision medicine in T1D, we propose a methods checklist for islet autoantibody-based manuscripts which includes use of precision medicine MeSH terms and participation in autoantibody standardization workshops. © The Author(s) 2024. (Less)
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Contribution to journal
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published
subject
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Communications medicine
volume
4
issue
1
article number
66
publisher
Nature Publishing Group
external identifiers
  • scopus:85197512814
  • pmid:38582818
ISSN
2730-664X
DOI
10.1038/s43856-024-00478-y
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
3a4f53fe-180f-4430-b6ea-7266389f3092
date added to LUP
2025-12-04 15:57:28
date last changed
2025-12-05 03:27:26
@article{3a4f53fe-180f-4430-b6ea-7266389f3092,
  abstract     = {{Background: Islet autoantibodies form the foundation for type 1 diabetes (T1D) diagnosis and staging, but heterogeneity exists in T1D development and presentation. We hypothesized that autoantibodies can identify heterogeneity before, at, and after T1D diagnosis, and in response to disease-modifying therapies. Methods: We systematically reviewed PubMed and EMBASE databases (6/14/2022) assessing 10 years of original research examining relationships between autoantibodies and heterogeneity before, at, after diagnosis, and in response to disease-modifying therapies in individuals at-risk or within 1 year of T1D diagnosis. A critical appraisal checklist tool for cohort studies was modified and used for risk of bias assessment. Results: Here we show that 152 studies that met extraction criteria most commonly characterized heterogeneity before diagnosis (91/152). Autoantibody type/target was most frequently examined, followed by autoantibody number. Recurring themes included correlations of autoantibody number, type, and titers with progression, differing phenotypes based on order of autoantibody seroconversion, and interactions with age and genetics. Only 44% specifically described autoantibody assay standardization program participation. Conclusions: Current evidence most strongly supports the application of autoantibody features to more precisely define T1D before diagnosis. Our findings support continued use of pre-clinical staging paradigms based on autoantibody number and suggest that additional autoantibody features, particularly in relation to age and genetic risk, could offer more precise stratification. To improve reproducibility and applicability of autoantibody-based precision medicine in T1D, we propose a methods checklist for islet autoantibody-based manuscripts which includes use of precision medicine MeSH terms and participation in autoantibody standardization workshops. © The Author(s) 2024.}},
  author       = {{Felton, J.L. and Ahmad, A. and Dudenhöffer-Pfeifer, M. and Fitipaldi, H. and Pomares-Millan, H. and Gomez, M.F. and Franks, P.W. and Sims, Emily K.}},
  issn         = {{2730-664X}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  publisher    = {{Nature Publishing Group}},
  series       = {{Communications medicine}},
  title        = {{Islet autoantibodies as precision diagnostic tools to characterize heterogeneity in type 1 diabetes: a systematic review}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s43856-024-00478-y}},
  doi          = {{10.1038/s43856-024-00478-y}},
  volume       = {{4}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}