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Autoimmune thyroid disease and antiphospholipid antibodies
D Nabriski1, M Ellis, R Ness-Abramof
1Division of Endocrinology, Meir Hospital, Kfar Saba, Israel.
American Journal of Hematology
|May 18, 2000
Summary
Antiphospholipid antibodies (APLA) are common in autoimmune thyroid disease (ATD) patients, but do not appear to cause the APLA syndrome. Further research is needed to understand the clinical significance of APLA in ATD.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Immunology
- Rheumatology
Background:
- Autoimmune thyroid disease (ATD) involves autoantibodies targeting thyroid tissue.
- Antiphospholipid antibodies (APLA) target plasma proteins and phospholipids, potentially causing thrombosis and pregnancy complications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of APLA in patients with ATD.
- To determine the incidence of the APLA syndrome in APLA-positive ATD patients.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective survey of 130 ATD patients from an academic hospital's endocrinology clinic.
- Analysis of Free T4, TSH, antimicrosomal antibodies, antithyroglobulin antibodies, and APLA test results.
Main Results:
- Overall APLA positivity was 43% in ATD patients (43% in chronic thyroiditis, 43% in Graves' disease).
- Of APLA-positive patients, 86% had IgG APLA, 7% had IgM APLA, and 16% had both.
- No patients exhibited clinical signs of the APLA syndrome.
Conclusions:
- APLA prevalence is elevated in ATD patients compared to healthy individuals, likely an epiphenomenon.
- Long-term follow-up is required to ascertain the clinical relevance of APLA in ATD.