title: High prevalence of antinuclear antibodies in children with thyroid autoimmunity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Antinuclear antibodies (ANA) are a hallmark of many autoimmune diseases and can be detected many years before disease onset. Autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITD) are frequently associated with other organ- and non-organ-specific autoimmune disorders. Objectives. To assess the prevalence of ANA in pediatric patients with AITD and their clinical correlations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-three consecutive pediatric patients with AITD were enrolled (86 children with chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis and 7 with Graves' disease). ANA, anti-double DNA (anti-dsDNA) antibodies, anti-extractable nuclear antigen (anti-ENA), anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies (anti-CCP), and rheumatoid factor (RF) was obtained. Signs and symptoms potentially related to rheumatic diseases in children were investigated by a questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  ANA positivity was found in 66/93 children (71%), anti-ENA in 4/93 (4.3%), anti-dsDNA in 1/93 (1.1%), RF in 3/93 (3.2%), and anti-CCP in none. No significant differences were found between the ANA-positive and ANA-negative groups with respect to age, sex, L-thyroxine treatment, or prevalence of other autoimmune diseases. Overall, parental autoimmunity was found in 23%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ANA positivity was demonstrated in 71% of children with AITD. ANA positivity was not related to overt immune-rheumatic diseases. However, because the positivity of ANA can occur even many years before the onset of systemic autoimmune diseases, prospective studies are warranted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Endocrinology Unit, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Via Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Segni
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Endocrinology Unit, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Via Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Ida
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pucarelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, Rheumatology, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Truglia
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Endocrinology Unit, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Via Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Turriziani
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Endocrinology Unit, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Via Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Serafinelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, Rheumatology, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Conti
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear
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