Autoimmune polyglandular syndrome Type 2: the tip of an iceberg?
Autoimmune polyglandular syndromes (APS) are conditions characterized by the association of two or more organ-specific disorders. Type 2 APS is defined by the occurrence of Addison's disease with thyroid autoimmune disease and/or Type 1 diabetes mellitus. Clinically overt disorders are considered only the tip of the autoimmune iceberg, since latent forms are much more frequent. Historical, clinical, genetic, and immunological aspects of Type 2 APS are reviewed. Furthermore, data on 146 personal cases of Type 2 APS are also reported.
Unit of Endocrinology, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Padua, Italy. corrado.betterle@unipd.it
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Betterle
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Lazzarotto
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Presotto
D000224:Addison Disease / Q000175:diagnosis; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000175:diagnosis; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D016884:Polyendocrinopathies, Autoimmune / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D013967:Thyroiditis, Autoimmune / Q000175:diagnosis