Lancet
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The occurrence of autoantibodies to an islet-cell protein of 64,000 Mr (64KA) was examined in relation to development of insulin-dependent diabetes. 64KA were absent in 26 normal controls and present in only 1 of 41 first-degree relatives who lacked islet-cell cytoplasmic autoantibodies (ICA) or insulin autoantibodies (IAA). Among first-degree relatives at high risk for IDD, 64KA were identified in 23 of 28 persons positive for ICA and 4 of 5 with IAA but no ICA. ⋯ In several individuals, 64KA were detected before the other autoantibodies appeared. These findings suggest that 64KA may be an early and useful predictive marker for IDD.