Infection virale multisystémique et diabète juvénile (type I) : a propos d'un cas clinique. [Multisystemic viral infection and juvenile diabetes (type I). Apropos of a clinical case].

We report the case of a 18 year old male patient, who developed an acute insulin-dependant (type I) diabetes in the course of a multisystemic viral infection. There were ne complains suggestive of a stat of insulonpenia prior to the onset of the infectious episode; moreover, the level of glycosylated haemoglobin was normal at the onset of the disease, a finding highly suggestive of a stat of normoglycemia in the preceding weeks. Serological tests suggested that the infection was due to an adenovirus (significant increase of the antibodies titer 23 days afters the first symptoms). HLA typing was compatible with a genetic susceptibility to develop autoimmune diseases (HLA B8, DR3 and DR4 positive). Also, islet-cells antibodies were present. This clinical case is discussed at the light of the recent advances in the understanding of the etiopathogeny of insulin-dependant (type I) diabetes. It illustrates the concept according to which a viral infection may pay a major role in the development of Type I diabetes, when appropriate genetic and immunologic susceptibility are present