GASTRIC MUCOSA-ASSOCIATED LYMPHOID-TISSUE IN AUTOIMMUNE THYROID-DISEASES

Background: There is increasing evidence for a link between Helicobact er pylori infection and the development of lymphoid follicles in the g astric mucosa. It is not known whether other factors may also play a r ole. The aim of this study was to investigate the role played by the h ost with peculiar immunogenic disorders, in the presence or absence of a known antigenic stimulus such as H. pylori. For this, we studied pa tients with autoimmune thyroid diseases. Methods: Thirty patients with autoimmune thyroid diseases and 30 dyspeptic patients without a histo ry of thyroid disorders (as control group) underwent upper endoscopy. Lymphoid follicles and H. pylori status were assessed by histopatholog ic and enzymatic analysis. Results: Organized mucosa-associated lympho id tissue was found in 73.3% of the patients and in 33.3% of control g roup. Lymphoid follicles were found in 87.5% of the H. pylori-positive patients and in 57.1% of the H. pylori-negative patients (P = NS). In the control group these follicles were present in 50% of H. pylori-po sitive subjects and in 14.3% of those who were H, pylori-negative. Con clusions: Lymphoid follicles in the gastric mucosa are common in autoi mmune thyroid diseases. Besides H. pylori infection, other factors (en vironmental, unknown infectious agents) or mechanisms related to the u nderlying disease may play a causal role.