Type 1 Diabetes and Other Autoimmune Disorders in Children

Abstract

The incidence of autoimmune disorders (AIDs) has been dramatically increasing in both children and adults over the past few years, and type 1 diabetes (T1D) is one of the diseases that has seen the highest growth. It is well-known that the dysimmune process may spread to other systems, leading to the onset of one or more AIDs in the same individual; however, the relationship between AIDs is not often recognized. The most frequently diagnosed AIDs in children and adolescents with T1D are thyroid diseases and celiac disease, but it is also important to consider the onset of the other conditions, such as juvenile idiopathic arthritis, multiple sclerosis, atrophic gastritis, inflammatory bowel diseases, and skin disorders such as vitiligo and psoriasis. This review aims to explore the overlap of T1D and other AIDs, focusing on the less common and lesser-known diseases. A better knowledge of these comorbidities may facilitate the identification of patients at risk to treat them in the preclinical period, before the onset of complications.