ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The aim of our study was to evaluate, retrospectively, the frequency of anti-thyroid antibodies (ATA) in coeliac disease (CD) patients. METHODS: ELISA was used to determine the frequency of anti-thyroid stimulating hormone receptor antibodies, thyroperoxidase antibodies and thyroglobulin antibodies in sera of 104 adult patients with CD. Patients were divided into three groups: group I, 56 untreated patients; group II, 21 patients on a strict gluten-free diet (GFD); and group III, 27 patients who did not comply with a GFD. Sera of 189 healthy blood donors served as controls. RESULTS: Out of 104 patients with CD, five (4.8%) had ATA. The frequency of ATA found in the control group (1.6%) was not significantly different from that found in all CD patients. However, the frequency of ATA in CD patients on a GFD was significantly higher than that found in the control group (8.3% vs. 1.6%, p=0.03). The frequency of ATA in groups I, II and III was 1.8%, 9.5% and 7.4%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: ATA were found in CD patients even on a GFD.
Subject(s)
Celiac Disease/immunology , Immunoglobulins, Thyroid-Stimulating/immunology , Thyroid Gland/immunology , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Diet , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay , Glutens , Humans , Iodide Peroxidase/immunology , Middle Aged , Receptors, Thyrotropin/immunology , Thyroglobulin/immunology , Thyroid Gland/enzymology , Thyroid Gland/metabolism , TunisiaABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate, retrospectively, the frequency of anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibodies (ASCA) in patients with coeliac disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS: ASCA, IgG and IgA were determined by ELISA in sera of 238 coeliac patients. The patients were divided into three groups: group I - 125 untreated patients; group II - 42 patients under a strict gluten-free diet (GFD); and group III - 71 patients who did not comply with a GFD. Sera of 80 healthy blood donors served as controls. RESULTS: The frequency of ASCA (IgG or IgA) was significantly higher in untreated coeliac patients than in the control group (27.2% versus 3.7%, p=10(-5)). In 238 coeliac patients, the frequency of ASCA was significantly higher in adults than in children (35.4% versus 21.1%, p=0.01). In group III, the frequency of ASCA was significantly higher in adults than in children (60% versus 26.1%, p=0.004). In 238 coeliac patients, ASCA IgG were significantly more frequent than ASCA IgA in both children (19% versus 6.3%, p=0.001) and adults (33.3% versus 12.5%, p=5.10(-4)). In children, ASCA IgG were negative in group II and positive in 20% of group I (p=0.01). In adults, the frequency of ASCA IgG was also significantly lower in group II than in group I (9.5% versus 34%, p=0.03). CONCLUSIONS: A high frequency of ASCA has been found in coeliac patients. The frequency of ASCA was not statistically different between patients with successful adherence to GFD and healthy controls.
