title: Serological evidence for the role of bacterial infections in the pathogenesis of thyroid diseases.
abstract: Subacute thyroiditis is generally believed to be of viral origin, and infection is also suspected of playing a role as a triggering factor in the pathogenesis of autoimmune thyroid diseases. We have measured a broad spectrum of bacterial and viral antibodies in paired sera of 32 patients with thyroid disease of recent onset. The data indicate a preceding infection in 14 (44%) of the patients, enterobacterial in 5, streptococcal in 4 and staphylococcal in 2. A viral infection was suggested in 6 patients, in each case caused by different agents; 3 of them also showed evidence of a bacterial infection. Patients with positive microbial serology were found in all diagnostic groups, including subacute thyroiditis, Graves' disease and Hashimoto's disease. These results suggest an association between a preceding bacterial infection and the development of thyroid disease in some patients.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006111:Graves Disease / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D006961:Hyperparathyroidism / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000276:immunology; D013966:Thyroiditis / Q000276:immunology; D013967:Thyroiditis, Autoimmune / Q000276:immunology; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D001323:Autoantibodies