Back to Search Start Over

Coexistence of thyroid autoimmunity with other autoimmune diseases: Friend or foe? Additional aspects on the mosaic of autoimmunity

Authors :
Ibrahim Marai
Martine Szyper-Kravitz
Yehuda Shoenfeld
Source :
Autoimmunity. 38:247-255
Publication Year :
2005
Publisher :
Informa UK Limited, 2005.

Abstract

Autoimmunity encompasses a wide spectrum of diseases from organ-specific diseases like Hashimoto thyroiditis, to systemic diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus. These diseases are characterized by inflammation and the production of a wide range of autoantibodies directed against multiple autoantigens. Although their etiology is still poorly understood, genetic, immunological, hormonal, and environmental factors are major predisposing and triggering factors. These multiple factors, like pieces in a mosaic, may interplay in different forms, leading to the expression of various autoimmune manifestations and diseases. This phenomenon, which has been referred by us as the "mosaic of autoimmunity", illuminates the diversity of autoimmune manifestations among susceptible individuals. From this theoretical framework we conducted a wide search of the literature, on the prevalence of thyroid autoimmunity, the commonest of the autoimmune conditions, among other autoimmune diseases, and discuss the possible clinical significance of this association.

Details

ISSN :
1607842X and 08916934
Volume :
38
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Autoimmunity
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....103765af8078f80aa07541ed55f24480
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1080/08916930500050194