Decrease of Circulating Insulin Antibodies in Two Patients Treated with Continuous Subcutaneous Infusion of Human Insulin (recombinant DNA)

Circulating insulin antibodies (CIA) were measured in two patients treated with continuous subcutaneous infusion (CSII) of human insulin (recombinant DNA). CIA were determined by a kinetic equilibrium assay after pretreatment of the serum to remove bound and free insulin. We observed that by changing from either purified bovine or purified porcine insulin to human insulin given by CSII, there is a gradual decrease in CIA detectable after 3 wk and more pronounced 3 mo after changing. These findings suggest that human insulin in combination with the improved metabolic control by CSII considerably reduces the antibody formation in patients with IDDM.