title: Helicobacter pylori CagA antibodies and thyroid function in latent autoimmune diabetes in adults.
abstract: H. pylori infection is reportedly associated with autoimmune diseases such as chronic thyroiditis and autoimmune diabetes. The aim of this study is to determine the association between H. pylori infection and its virulent strain CagA with antibodies against thyroperoxidase (TPO Ab) and thyrotropin (TSH) in a cohort of latent autoimmune diabetes in adult (LADA) patients.
  
  
  
  We included 234 LADA patients (53.8% women). Antibodies against H. pylori whole antigens and CagA, TPO Ab and TSH were assessed in all patients.
  
  
  
  Prevalence of IgG against H. pylori and GagA was 52.1% and 20.9% respectively. Antibodies against H. pylori were not associated with TPO Ab and TSH (rho = 0.067, p = 0.620 and rho = 0.156, p = 0.099, respectively). Antibodies against CagA showed a positive association with TSH and TPO Ab (respectively rho = 0.309, p = 0.036 and rho = 0.419, p = 0.037). Subjects with hypothyroidism (TSH ≥ 3.5 μU/ml) had an increased frequency of Ab anti CagA (p = 0.059).
  
  
  
  The infection by H. pylori strains expressing CagA is associated with increased TPO Ab and TSH levels in LADA patients, suggesting a possible mechanism involved in thyroid autoimmunity and dysfunction of the gland. Further research is needed to test this hypothesis.
authors: Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Sassari, Sassari, Italy. aledelitala@tiscali.it.
authors: A P
authors: AP
authors: Delitala
authors: G M
authors: GM
authors: Pes
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Errigo
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Maioli
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Delitala
authors: M P
authors: MP
authors: Dore
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000150:complications*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D000071698:Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013966:Thyroiditis
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins