PERSISTENT HIGH PREVALENCE OF THYROID ANTIBODIES AFTER IMMUNOSUPPRESSIVE THERAPY IN SUBJECTS WITH GLOMERULONEPHRITIS - A PROSPECTIVE 3-YEARFOLLOW-UP-STUDY

The prevalence of thyroid antibodies, indicating an autoimmune thyroid itis, has been shown to be significantly increased in patients with au toimmune diseases. A 3-year prospective follow-up study of 42 patients with biopsy-confirmed glomerulonephritis is presented. Although the m ajority of patients had been treated with immunosuppressants, the prev alence of thyroid peroxidase antibodies was unchanged in both females and males, 47 and 15 % respectively, at follow-up. Likewise, the preva lence of thyroglobulin antibodies was unaffected as was that of antinu clear antibodies (ANA) when analysing males and females together. Howe ver, for males there was a trend to higher prevalence for ANA at follo w-up. On the other hand, the prevalence of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies declined. Furthermore, thyroid antibodies were not restrict ed to membranous nephropathy, and notably found in 4 out of the 8 pati ents with vasculitis.