High prevalence of anti-glutamic acid decarboxylase (anti-GAD) antibodies in employees at a polychlorinated biphenyl production factory

Langer, P; Tajtakova, M; Guretzki, HJ; Kocan, A; Petrik, J; Chovancova, J; Drobna, B; Jursa, S; Pavuk, M; Trnovec, T; Sebokova, E; Klimes, I

HERO ID

150652

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year

2002

Language

English

PMID

12641181

HERO ID 150652
In Press No
Year 2002
Title High prevalence of anti-glutamic acid decarboxylase (anti-GAD) antibodies in employees at a polychlorinated biphenyl production factory
Authors Langer, P; Tajtakova, M; Guretzki, HJ; Kocan, A; Petrik, J; Chovancova, J; Drobna, B; Jursa, S; Pavuk, M; Trnovec, T; Sebokova, E; Klimes, I
Journal Archives of Environmental Health
Volume 57
Issue 5
Page Numbers 412-415
Abstract An increased prevalence of thyroid antibodies was seen in employees of a factory that formerly produced polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). In this study, the authors expand the evaluation of possible long-term PCB effects by comparing the prevalence of glutamic acid decarboxylase (anti-GAD) antibodies with the development of diabetes mellitus. The sera of 240 factory employees and 704 control subjects were analyzed. Anti-GAD antibody values exceeded 1.20 U/ml in all employees (40.4%), was 4 times higher (p < .001) than in all controls (10.5%), and were 5 times higher in employees aged 51-60 yr (53.2%) than in age-matched controls (10.5%) (p < .001). Although the prevalence of diabetes could not be determined from this retrospective study, this is the first report of a possible relationship between xenobiotics and the prevalence of anti-GAD antibodies, and it supports the concept of an immunomodulatory effect of PCBs. However, such antibodies may be present decades before the development of clinical diabetes, and not all anti-GAD antibody-positive individuals become diabetic. Presently, it is unknown whether there is an increased prevalence of diabetes among the former factory employees.
Doi 10.1080/00039890209601429
Pmid 12641181
Wosid WOS:000181523000003
Is Certified Translation No
Dupe Override No
Is Public Yes
Language Text English
Keyword Adult; Age Distribution; Aged; Autoantibodies/*blood; Case-Control Studies; Diabetes Mellitus/*chemically induced/epidemiology; Environmental Monitoring; Female; Glutamate Decarboxylase/*immunology; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Occupational Diseases/*chemically induced/epidemiology; Occupational Exposure/*adverse effects/analysis; Polychlorinated Biphenyls/analysis/immunology/*poisoning; Prevalence; Risk Factors; Slovakia/epidemiology; Xenobiotics/analysis/immunology/*poisoning; 0 (Autoantibodies); 0 (Polychlorinated Biphenyls); 0 (Xenobiotics); EC 4.1.1.15 (Glutamate Decarboxylase)
Is Qa No