Down syndrome-associated diabetes is not due to a congenital deficiency in β cells

Abstract

Aims/Hypothesis: We sought to establish whether the increased incidence of diabetes associated with Down syndrome was due to a congenital deficit in β cells. Methods: The pancreas was obtained at autopsy from nondiabetic subjects with Down syndrome (n = 29) and age-matched nondiabetic control subjects without Down syndrome (n = 28). The pancreas sections were evaluated for the fractional β-cell area. Results: No difference was found in the fractional β-cell area between the subjects with Down syndrome and the control subjects. Conclusions/Interpretations: The increased incidence and prevalence of diabetes in individuals with Down syndrome is not due to an underlying congenital deficiency of β cells.