[Autoimmune polyendocrinopathies. Pathogenic hypotheses].
In most of the cases, once a given endocrine gland is involved, the corresponding specific autoantibody may be detected; for example, anti-islet cell antibodies are produced within the first few years, after onset of symptoms in insulin-dependent diabetes (DID). Accompanying autoantibodies are quite frequently found in the patient himself. In Schmidt's syndrome (thyroid and adrenal glands are involved and associated to IDD in 30% of the cases) thyroid microsomal antibodies are found in 38% of the cases, thyroglobulin antibodies in 11% of the cases, islet-cell antibodies in 7% of the cases and steroid cell antibodies in 17% of the cases. Associations are also possible in patient family members. Aberrant expression of HLA-DR molecules at the membrane of follicular thyroid cells (as of any other endocrine gland), following a viral aggression, could well account for the endocrinopathy combinations, but alternative mechanisms should be discussed.
D000918:Antibody Specificity; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D004702:Endocrine Glands / Q000276:immunology; D004700:Endocrine System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular
D001323:Autoantibodies; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens
Polyendocrinopathies autoimmunes. Hypothèses pathogéniques.