REVISTA ARGENTINA DE ENDOCRINOLOGÍA Y METABOLISMO
Ingrid M. Libman, M.D., Ph.D.
Durante las últimas décadas, el aporte de la epidemiología a través de la estandarización de los métodos y las definiciones y la colaboración internacional ha permitido una mejor estimación de la incidencia y prevalencia de la diabetes mellitus (DM) en la infancia y la adolescencia, así como la detección de probables factores de riesgo para los distintos tipos de la enfermedad, lo que orientaría al desarrollo de medidas preventivas y terapéuticas y la mayor comprensión de la magnitud del problema. Se ha observado un aumento global y amplias diferencias entre distintas regiones en la incidencia de la diabetes tipo 1 (DM1), al igual que un incremento en la frecuencia de la diabetes tipo 2 (DM2) en ciertas etnias asociado a un aumento de la obesidad. Se ha descripto la existencia de la llamada DM “doble” o “híbrida”, caracterizada por la asociación de un fenotipo de DM2 (obesidad, acantosis nigricans) con mani- La autora declara no poseer conflicto de interés. Abstract During the last decades, the contribution of epidemiology through the standardization of methods and definitions and international collaboration allowed a better estimation of the incidence and prevalence of DM in children and adolescents, as well as the detection of likely risk factors for the different types of the disease, which would allow the development of preventive and therapeutic measures and a better understanding of the magnitude of the problem. A global increase and wide differences in the incidence of type 1 diabetes have been observed among regions, as well as an increase in the frequency of type 2 diabetes in some ethnic groups, associated to a growing prevalence of obesity. The existence of what has been named “double” or “hybrid” DM has also been described, characterized by a phenotype of DM2 (obesity and acantosis nigricans) associated with No competing finantial interests exist. Dirección Postal: Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC 45th St and Penn Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15201, USA Correspondencia a: Ingrid.libman@chp.edu Palabras clave: epidemiología, diabetes juvenil, diabetes doble Key Words: epidemiology, childhood diabetes, “double” diabetes. festaciones de autoinmunidad anti células β.
During the last decades, the contribution of epidemiology through the standardization of methods and definitions and international collaboration allowed a better estimation of the incidence and prevalence of DM in children and adolescents, as well as the detection of likely risk factors for the different types of the disease, which would allow the development of preventive and therapeutic measures and a better understanding of the magnitude of the problem. A global increase and wide differences in the incidence of type 1 diabetes have been observed among regions, as well as an increase in the frequency of type 2 diabetes in some ethnic groups, associated to a growing prevalence of obesity. The existence of what has been named “double” or “hybrid” DM has also been described, characterized by a phenotype of DM2 (obesity and acantosis nigricans) associated with No competing finantial interests exist. Dirección Postal: Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC 45th St and Penn Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15201, USA Correspondencia a: Ingrid.libman@chp.edu Palabras clave: epidemiología, diabetes juvenil, diabetes doble Key Words: epidemiology, childhood diabetes, “double” diabetes. festaciones de autoinmunidad anti células β. Rev Argent Endocrinol Metab 46: 22-36, 2009 manifestations of autoimmunity.