Yersinia enterocolitica and thyroid autoimmunity.
The concordance rate of Graves' disease in pairs of identical twins of 30 to 60% points to the influence of environmental factors, and infections have often been incriminated in the pathogenesis. More than 15 years ago we demonstrated an increased frequency of antibodies to Yersinia enterocolitica (Y. ent.) serotype 3, which later was confirmed by others, suggesting a link between infection with Y. ent. and autoimmune thyroid diseases.
Bech
K
K
Steno Memorial Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
D000818:Animals; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D001665:Binding Sites; D006111:Graves Disease / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D013967:Thyroiditis, Autoimmune / Q000209:etiology*; D015009:Yersinia Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D015008:Yersinia enterocolitica / Q000276:immunology*
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial