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Thyroid and celiac disease: clinical, serological, and echographic study
F Velluzzi1, A Caradonna, M F Boy
1Department of Endocrinology, Institute of Internal Medicine, University of Cagliari, Italy.
The American Journal of Gastroenterology
|July 1, 1998
Summary
Celiac disease patients show a higher prevalence of autoimmune thyroid disease, particularly those with the DQB1*0502 genotype. This suggests a link between genetics and thyroid autoimmunity in Sardinian celiac populations.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Gastroenterology
- Immunology
Background:
- Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder with known associations with other autoimmune conditions.
- Thyroid dysfunction and autoimmunity are common, but their prevalence in celiac disease requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of thyroid dysfunction and autoimmunity in Sardinian celiac disease patients.
- To explore potential genetic links, specifically HLA DQB1 alleles, associated with thyroid autoimmunity in this population.
Main Methods:
- Assessed 47 celiac patients and 91 controls from Sardinia for thyroid autoimmunity using antithyroid peroxidase autoantibodies (anti-TPO) and thyroid echography.
- Diagnosed celiac disease via clinical history, serological markers (AGA-A, AGA-G, ARA, EMA), and jejunal biopsy.
- Performed HLA class II typing (DQB1, DQA1) on celiac patients and measured thyroid hormones (FT4, FT3, TSH).
Main Results:
- Celiac patients had a significantly higher prevalence of anti-TPO antibodies (29.7%) compared to controls (9.6%).
- Thyroid echography revealed a hypoechogenic pattern in 42.5% of celiac patients.
- Five anti-TPO-positive celiac patients had hypothyroidism (two overt, three subclinical).
Conclusions:
- Autoimmune thyroid disease is more prevalent in Sardinian celiac patients, including clinical and subclinical forms.
- The DQB1*0502 genotype may be associated with an increased risk of thyroid autoimmunity in celiac patients.
- The findings suggest a specific genetic predisposition within the Sardinian population contributing to the co-occurrence of celiac disease and autoimmune thyroid conditions.