Autoimmune thyroiditis and Helicobacter pylori--is there a connection?
OBJECTIVE
In this study we examined the anti-Helicobacter pylori (anti-H. pylori) antibodies in patients with autoimmune thyroiditis, with and without different polyglandular involvement, and in healthy controls.


METHODS
Patients with autoimmune thyroiditis (AT) were divided into three groups: Group A: 23 patients with isolated AT, Group B: 30 patients with AT as a part of polyglandular activation of autoimmunity, and Group C: 7 patients with AT as a part of autoimmune polyglandular syndrome type II. Thirty healthy individuals served as controls (Group D). Anti-H. pylori antibodies were determined first by ELISA for classes IgG, IgA, and IgM, and subsequently by immunoblot for classes IgG and IgA.


RESULTS
ELISA: The number of patients with IgA antibodies in Group A (39%) and Group B (30%) differed significantly from controls (7%, p<0.05). Immunoblot: Anti-CagA antibodies were found in 13% of patients in Group A, 7% of Group B, 0% of Group C, and 20% of Group D. A higher seroprevalence, as compared to controls, was found for IgG to the VacA (p=0.01), 30 kDa (p=0.001), and 17 kDa (p=0.008) antigens in Group A and for IgG to the 30 kDa antigen in Group C (p=0.037). A significantly higher seroprevalence, as compared to controls, was likewise found for IgA to the 17 kDa antigen in Group A (p=0.015).


CONCLUSIONS
A different distribution of antibodies to H. pylori antigens was found in patients with isolated AT compared to patients with AT coupled with a polyglandular syndrome.
Sterzl
Ivan
I
Institute of Immunology and Microbiology, 1st Medical Faculty, Charles University, General Faculty Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic. ister@lf1.cuni.cz
Hrda
Pavlina
P
Potuznikova
Bela
B
Matucha
Petr
P
Hana
Vaclav
V
Zamrazil
Vaclav
V
D000328:Adult; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000276:immunology* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013967:Thyroiditis, Autoimmune / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D007070:Immunoglobulin A