2050 – CentAK® anti-IA2 M

MEDIPAN CentAK® IAA M is a direct assay based on the principle of radio ligand for the determination of autoantibodies to Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase IA2 in human serum in the diagnosis of autoimmune Diabetes mellitus type 1.

Genetic susceptibility and exposure to environmental factors are probable causes of type 1 diabetes, alternatively referred to as insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), a chronic autoimmune destruction of the insulin-secreting pancreatic beta cells. This condition is believed to be completely asymptomatic until about 80-90% of the cells are destroyed, a process that may take years to complete, occurring regardless of age.

Circulating autoantibodies to beta cell antigens are characteristic of the preclinical phase of the autoimmune process.

Preclinical phase of the autoimmune process is evident by the presence of autoantibodies to beta cell antigens, especially insulin autoantibodies (IAA), glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) and tyrosine phosphatase ICA 512 (IA2), several years prior to appearance of clinical symptoms.

A major diagnostic marker for type 1 diabetes is IA2, a protein of the tyrosine phosphatases, which is localized in the dense granules of pancreatic beta cells. Autoantibodies to IA2 are present in most type 1 diabetes patients at the early stage of disease and in individuals in the pre-diabetic disease. The appearance of these autoantibodies tends to correlate with the rapid progression to type 1 diabetes, and hence used in the diagnosis of the disease.

An essential part of the risk assessment of type 1 diabetes in children and adolescent includes a combination of the autoantibodies to GAD₆₅ and IA2, offering a more sensitive and predictive method than ICA in risk groups, e.g. relatives of type 1 diabetes patients. Screening for GAD₆₅ and IA2 autoantibodies detect over 90 % of people at risk for type 1 diabetes and may offer a more reliable approach than detecting ICA.