title: Herpes virus antibodies seroprevalence in children with autoimmune thyroid disease.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, Metaxa Memorial Anticancer Research Hospital, Botasi 51 Str, Piraeus, Greece. thomasproge@endo.gr
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Feneli
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Karachaliou
authors.forename: Konstantina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kallergi
authors.forename: Elpis
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vlachopapadopoulou
authors.forename: Georgia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Antonaki
authors.forename: Fotini
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chatzimarkou
authors.forename: Aspasia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fotinou
authors.forename: Philippos
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kaldrymides
authors.forename: Stefanos
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Michalacos
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M