Three-Year Follow-up After Antiviral Treatment in New-Onset Type 1 Diabetes: Results From the Diabetes Virus Detection and Intervention Trial

OBJECTIVE In the Diabetes Virus Detection and Intervention trial, antiviral treatment with pleconaril and ribavirin decreased the decline, compared with placebo, in endogenous C-peptide 1 year after diagnosis of type 1 diabetes (T1D) in children and adolescents. This article reports the results 2 and 3 years after diagnosis. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS This was a multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled (1:1) trial of 96 children and adolescents aged 6–15.9 years newly diagnosed with T1D. Antiviral treatment (pleconaril and ribavirin) or placebo was given for 6 months from diagnosis, and participants were followed for 3 years. The primary outcome was residual C-peptide secretion, reported as the area under the curve (AUC), assessed by 2-h mixed-meal tolerance test. Secondary outcomes included insulin doses and HbA1c. RESULTS At the 3-year follow-up, 75 participants attended. At 2 years, the mean ± SD AUC for C-peptide in the placebo group was 0.27 ± 0.33 compared with 0.34 ± 0.37 in the pleconaril and ribavirin group. After 3 years, the AUC had decreased to 0.17 ± 0.23 and 0.25 ± 0.34, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups. The groups were also comparable with regard to secondary end points. CONCLUSIONS The decreased reduction in C-peptide levels after antiviral treatment is no longer present after 2 or 3 years. Further investigations are needed to explore options to use antiviral treatment in the prevention and treatment of T1D.