Herpes virus antibodies seroprevalence in children with autoimmune thyroid disease.
BACKGROUND
Elevated titers of antibodies against different herpes virus antigens have been reported in some immunodeficient and systemic autoimmune disorders.


OBJECTIVE
To examine if Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and cytomegalovirus (CMV) IgG and IgM antibodies are detected more frequently in children with autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) compared to controls.


METHODS
Thirty-four children with AITD, aged 9.62 +/- 2.35 years, and 31 matched controls, aged 9.24 +/- 2.98 years, were studied.


RESULTS
The percentage of EBV IgG+ children with AITD was statistically higher than the percentage of EBV IgG+ controls (82.35% versus 51.61%, P = 0.008). The percentage of EBV IgG+ children with AITD and hypothyroidism was statistically higher than the percentage of EBV IgG+ children with AITD, without hypothyroidism (100% versus 70%, P = 0.024). No other statistically significant differences were observed in HSV-1+2, and CMV IgG or IgM antibodies between the subgroups of children studied.


CONCLUSIONS
EBV seroprevalence is higher in children with AITD compared to controls and the underlying pathology remains to be elucidated.
Thomas
Dimitrios
D
Department of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, Metaxa Memorial Anticancer Research Hospital, Botasi 51 Str, Piraeus, Greece. thomasproge@endo.gr
Karachaliou
Feneli
F
Kallergi
Konstantina
K
Vlachopapadopoulou
Elpis
E
Antonaki
Georgia
G
Chatzimarkou
Fotini
F
Fotinou
Aspasia
A
Kaldrymides
Philippos
P
Michalacos
Stefanos
S
D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D002648:Child; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006042:Goiter / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D006564:Herpesviridae / Q000276:immunology*; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013967:Thyroiditis, Autoimmune / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M