Fulminant type 1 diabetes: A comprehensive review of an autoimmune condition.

ABSTRACT

Fulminant type 1 diabetes (FT1D) is a subset of type 1 diabetes characterized by extremely rapid pancreatic ß-cell destruction with aggressive progression of hyperglycaemia and ketoacidosis. It was initially classified as idiopathic type 1 diabetes due to the absence of autoimmune markers. However, subsequent studies provide evidences supporting the involvement of autoimmunity in rapid ß-cell loss in FT1D pathogenesis, which are crucial for FT1D being an autoimmune disease. This article highlights the role of immunological aspects in FT1D according to the autoimmune-associated genetic background, viral infection, innate immunity, adaptive immunity, and pancreas histology.