The factors relevant to partial remission in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus after measles vaccination: A retrospective study

Abstract

We aimed to identify the determinants of partial remission in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM), and whether there is an influence of vaccination against measles on partial remission. This was a retrospective study consisting of consecutive patients diagnosed with type 1 DM followed-up from 1 September 2010, through 30 November 2011. The study included children vaccinated within 3 months after diagnosis, and children unvaccinated during the first 12 months of the disease. The daily insulin dose, hemoglobin A1c, and C-peptide levels, and whether children are in partial remission based on the insulin dose-adjusted HbA1c were recorded at diagnosis and 3, 6, 9, 12, 24, and 36 months. A total of 55 children with type 1 DM were analyzed. Thirty-one patients (56.4%) reached partial remission during the follow-up period, whereas 24 of them did not. Patients with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) at diagnosis were less likely to reach partial remission than patients without DKA (odds ratio [OR], 0.24; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.062-0.946;P = .038). Patients vaccinated against measles were more likely to be in partial remission than patients unvaccinated (OR, 4.2; 95% CI, 1.35-13;P = .011). Partial remission was significantly associated with the C-peptide level and insulin dosage at diagnosisP = .002;P = .013, respectively). The lack of DKA, higher C-peptide level, and lower insulin dosage at diagnosis, and vaccination against measles after diagnosis may have an influence on partial clinical remission in patients with new-onset type 1 DM.