Persistent high prevalence of thyroid antibodies after immunosuppressive therapy in subjects with glomerulonephritis. A prospective three-year follow-up study

Am J Nephrol. 1998;18(4):274-9. doi: 10.1159/000013350.

Abstract

The prevalence of thyroid antibodies, indicating an autoimmune thyroiditis, has been shown to be significantly increased in patients with autoimmune diseases. A 3-year prospective follow-up study of 42 patients with biopsy-confirmed glomerulonephritis is presented. Although the majority of patients had been treated with immunosuppressants, the prevalence of thyroid peroxidase antibodies was unchanged in both females and males, 47 and 15% respectively, at follow-up. Likewise, the prevalence of thyroglobulin antibodies was unaffected as was that of antinuclear antibodies (ANA) when analysing males and females together. However, for males there was a trend to higher prevalence for ANA at follow-up. On the other hand, the prevalence of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies declined. Furthermore, thyroid antibodies were not restricted to membranous nephropathy, and notably found in 4 out of the 8 patients with vasculitis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic / analysis
  • Autoantibodies / analysis*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Glomerulonephritis / drug therapy*
  • Glomerulonephritis / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Iodide Peroxidase / immunology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prevalence
  • Prospective Studies
  • Thyroglobulin / immunology
  • Thyroid Gland / immunology*
  • Thyroiditis, Autoimmune / epidemiology
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic
  • Autoantibodies
  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Thyroglobulin
  • Iodide Peroxidase