Association of circulating antibodies against double-stranded and single-stranded DNA with thyroid autoantibodies in Graves' disease and Hashimoto's thyroiditis patients.
The occurrence of antinuclear antibody (ANA), rheumatoid factor (RF), antibodies to double-stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA) and to single-stranded DNA (anti-ssDNA) was investigated in 51 patients with autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITD), and in 25 matched control subjects. In comparison with controls, the prevalence of anti-dsDNA was 74.5% in AITD patients (p=0.0001), 82.0% in 39 hyperthyroid Graves' disease (GD) (p=0.0001), and 50.0% in 12 euthyroid Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) patients (p=0.0001). The prevalence of anti-ssDNA was 90.1% in AITD (94.8% in GD and 75% in HT; p=0.001). The concentration of both anti-dsDNA and anti-ssDNA were higher (p=0.002) in AITD, in GD (p=0.001), and in HT (p=0.01) patients than in controls. Two patients with AITD were identified as positive for ANA. RF was detected in 4 AITD patients. Positive correlation was noted between anti-dsDNA with T4 (p=0.001), T3 (p=0.002), thyroid peroxidase antibody (anti-TPO) (p=0.0001), and TSH (p=0.001) values but not with thyroglobulin antibody (anti-Tg). Serum anti-ssDNA values were also correlated with T3 (p=0.0001), TSH (p=0.003), and anti-TPO (p=0.0001). However, by using a multiple regression analysis only anti-TPO remained associated with anti-dsDNA and both anti-Tg and anti-TPO with anti-ssDNA values. The predisposition to develop systemic autoimmune disorders is not influenced by thyroid hormones. The elevated prevalence of serum anti-dsDNA and anti-ssDNA in AITD patients points out that we must be aware of the risk for predisposition for the development of other systemic autoimmune diseases.
Pedro
A B P
AB
Department of Endocrinology & Clinical Laboratory, Hospital do Servidor Público Estadual, IAMSPE, São Paulo, Brazil.
Romaldini
J H
JH
Americo
C
C
Takei
K
K
D000328:Adult; D000906:Antibodies / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D004247:DNA / Q000276:immunology*; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006111:Graves Disease / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D050031:Hashimoto Disease / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values; D013960:Thyroid Function Tests
D000906:Antibodies; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded; D004247:DNA