Coxsackie B4 virus

Coxsackie B4 virus is a virus which can trigger an autoimmune reaction which results in destruction of the insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas, which is one of several different etiologies of diabetes mellitus.

An absolute deficiency of insulin renders the person a type 1 diabetic. There are several viruses in the Coxsackie family and many of them seem to evoke this response, as do several other agents. A genetic predisposition appears to be important, such that individuals with HLA types DR3 and DR4 predominate in the affected population.