title: Autoantibodies to alfa-fodrin in patients with Hashimoto thyroiditis and Sjögren's syndrome: possible markers for a common secretory disorder.
abstract: Presence of autoantibodies to alfa-fodrin was investigated in patients with Sjögren's syndrome (n = 61), Hashimoto thyroiditis (n = 27), Sjögren's syndrome associated with Hashimoto thyroiditis (n = 31) and in healthy persons (n = 77). In each group, level of alfa-fodrin antibodies was higher than in the controls. There was no significant difference in their presence either between patients with Hashimoto thyroiditis with or without Sjögren's syndrome, or-in IgA isotype-between Sjögren's and Hashimoto thyroiditis patients. Correlation was found between the level of IgG alfa-fodrin and anti-thyroglobulin antibodies. Based on these findings, fodrin can be associated with both endocrine and exocrine glandular secretion. Antibodies to alfa-fodrin might have a role in the pathogenesis of Hashimoto thyroiditis concerning the "final common effectory pathway", secretion. Alfa-fodrin antibodies can be good markers of secretory disorders. Assessment of these autoantibodies might help the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with impaired secretory capability of not only autoimmune origin.
authors.affiliation: Medical and Health Science Center, Institute for Internal Medicine, 3rd Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Clinical Immunology, University of Debrecen, Móricz Zs. krt. 22, 4004 Debrecen, Hungary. szantonia@freemail.hu
authors.forename: Antonia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Szanto
authors.forename: Istvan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Csipo
authors.forename: Ildiko
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Horvath
authors.forename: Edit
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Biro
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Szodoray
authors.forename: Margit
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zeher
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D050031:Hashimoto Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000097:blood; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008840:Microfilament Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D013049:Spectrin
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; D013049:Spectrin