Prevalence of autoimmune diseases and autoantibodies in Ethiopia

Analysis of 7,966 hospital admissions and other available data suggest that disease associated with autoimmunity are rare in Ethiopia. Sera from 107 patients with dyspepsia and 80 healthy Ethiopians were studied for autoantibodies. Using the immunofluorescence technique and anti-Fab-FITC conjugate, a search for organ-specific autoantibodies against thyroid (microsomal and thyroglobulin) cells as well as for non-organ-specific autoantibodies against nuclear material, smooth muscle, mitochondria, cardiolipin, glomerular basement membrane and connective tissue (reticulin antibodies) revealed that they were uncommon. Thus, both clinical and serological studies confirm that previously held views concerning the rarity of autoimmune diseases in many parts of Africa are also true in Ethiopia. It is suggested that the few Ethiopians who develop autoimmune diseases may have an overwhelming hereditary predisposition which is unable to overcome inhibitory factors in the environment.