Down Syndrome-Associated Diabetes Is Not Due To a Congenital Deficiency in β Cells

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.