Occurrence and risk factors for autoimmune thyroid disease in patients with atrophic body gastritis.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the occurrence of and risk factors for autoimmune thyroid disease in atrophic body gastritis patients.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study on 401 consecutive outpatients with atrophic body gastritis. Diagnostic work-up of thyroid disease was completed in 319 atrophic body gastritis patients (225 women, median age 55.5 years [range 17-95 years]). Data on anagraphics, lifestyle, family history, and biochemical and histological items were obtained at baseline, and associations between atrophic body gastritis and autoimmune and nonautoimmune thyroid diseases were explored through descriptive statistics and logistic regression analyses.


RESULTS
Of the 319 atrophic body gastritis patients, 169 (53%) had an associated thyroid disorder, and 89 (52.7%) of these were unaware of it. The thyroid disease was autoimmune in 128 patients (75.7%) and nonautoimmune in 41 patients. Logistic regression showed that risk factors for having autoimmune thyroid disease in atrophic body gastritis patients were female sex (odds ratio [OR] 5.6, 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.6-12.1), presence of parietal cell antibodies (OR 2.5, 95% CI, 1.1-5.5), and presence of metaplastic atrophy (OR 2.2, 95% CI, 1.0-5.0).


CONCLUSIONS
Autoimmune thyroid disease and atrophic body gastritis occur in a closely linked fashion, suggesting that atrophic body gastritis patients should be investigated for an occult autoimmune thyroid disease, in particular women and those with positive parietal cell antibodies.
Lahner
Edith
E
Department of Digestive and Liver Disease, University "La Sapienza", Second Medical School, Ospedale Sant'Andrea, Rome, Italy.
Centanni
Marco
M
Agnello
Giacoma
G
Gargano
Lucilla
L
Vannella
Lucy
L
Iannoni
Carlo
C
Delle Fave
Gianfranco
G
Annibale
Bruno
B
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005757:Gastritis, Atrophic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013967:Thyroiditis, Autoimmune / Q000453:epidemiology*