The prevalence of thyroid autoantibodies in dermatitis herpetiformis

Abstract

The prevalence of IgG class thyroglobulin and microsomal antibodies, estimated using a sensitive ELISA, was 48% in 115 patients with dermatitis herpetiformis, which was significantly greater than the prevalence of 16% in 107 unselectcd controls without dermatitis herpetiformis. IgA class thyroid antibodies were found in 29% of dermatitis herpetiformis patients. Overt thyroid disease had been diagnosed in six (5%) of the dermatitis herpetiformis group and a further six patients had elevated TSH levels. The presence of thyroid antibodies was not associated with particular HLA‐DR antigens. These results demonstrate the frequent occurrence of thyroid antibodies in dermatitis herpetiformis, although thyroid failure is less commonly associated with this condition. Immune response genes outside the HLA‐DR region may be involved in the immune hyper‐responsiveness seen in dermatitis herpetiformis which is reflected in the high prevalence of thyroid autoimmunity.