Simultaneous onset of rheumatoid arthritis and insulin-dependent diabetes

BACKGROUND: Rheumatoid arthritis and insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus ar e both autoimmune disorders of unknown etiology. We report the case of a pa tient who developed the two diseases simultaneously. CASE REPORT: A 64-year-old man with no remarkable medical history developed insulin-dependent diabetes disclosed by ketoacidosis that occurred 3 weeks after onset of a bilateral symmetrical polyarthritic syndrome characterist ic of rheumatoid arthritis. DISCUSSION: These two disorders share common susceptibility of subjects wit h MHC dan II molecules HLA DRB1*04. Immunological studies have also shown a common Th1 type cytokine-secretion pattern in both diseases. Epidemiologic al studies have not however clearly demonstrated a link between them.