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.