Immune reaction to food antigens in Graves' disease (GD) patients: role of gliadin and other food antigens

As known, an imbalance of the gut microbiota is associated with a higher risk for autoimmune diseases. Moreover the increased rates of autoimmunity reported in urban residential areas worldwide suggest a possible influence of diet. We report on the antibody response to food antigens in GD patients. Since 10% of celiac patients develop an autoimmune thyreopathy we focused on gliadin (DGP), transglutaminases (tTG) and 40 other food antigens (FA). Commercially available ELISA assays were performed according to the manufacturer’s instructions. 105 and 108 sera from 5 European endocrine centres have been tested for IgG and IgA to tTG and DGP. Results have been compared to epidemiological data. 71 sera have also been tested for IgG to FA and compared to 25 healthy controls. 6 out of 105 sera (5.7%) showed positive tTG; 16 and 7 out of 108 (15 and 6.5%) positive DGP-IgA and IgG, respectively; a higher prevalence compared to the worldwide prevalence of celiac disease (1%) (chi-squared test; p-value < 0.001). Prevalence of smokers and ocular involvement was not higher in patients with positive sera compared to negative. 23 out of 71 (32.3%) GD sera showed sensitivity against a food antigens, compared to 25% (6 out of 24) positive results among healthy controls (chi-squared test; P-value=0.4). Interestingly, some antigens (cow’s milk, egg white, wheat, yeast) are more frequently positive than others. The distribution of antibodies against TSH receptor (TRAb) values was not different in positive or negative sera. In conclusion, the prevalence of positive tTG antibodies is higher in GD patients than worldwide. Even though autoantibodies to DGP and tTG were equally distributed between all 5 centres we observed the highest percentage of positive responses to other food antigens in Cardiff, suggesting that diet may contribute to the increased sensitivity. More studies are needed to confirm these data

Use of thyroid hormones in hypothyroid and euthyroid patients: a THESIS* survey of Belgian specialists *THESIS: treatment of hypothyroidism in Europe by specialists: an international survey.

[en] BACKGROUND: Hypothyroidism is a topic that continues to provoke debate and controversy with regards to specific indications, type of thyroid hormone substitution and efficacy. We investigated the use of thyroid hormones in clinical practice in Belgium, a country where currently only levothyroxine (LT4) tablet formulations are available. METHOD: Members of the Belgian Endocrine Society were invited to respond to an online questionnaire. Results were compared with those from other THESIS surveys. RESULTS: Eighty (50%) of the invited 160 individuals, completed the questionnaire. LT4 was the first treatment of choice for all respondents. As secondary choice, some also prescribed liothyronine (LT3) and LT4 + LT3 combinations (2 and 7 respondents, respectively). Besides hypothyroidism, 34 and 50% of respondents used thyroid hormones for infertile euthyroid TPOAb positive women and the treatment of a growing non-toxic goiter, respectively. Had alternative formulations of LT4 to tablets been available (soft gel or liquid L-T4), 2 out of 80 (2.5%) participants would consider them for patients achieving biochemical euthyroidism but remaining symptomatic. This proportion was higher in case of unexplained poor biochemical control of hypothyroidism (13.5%) and in patients with celiac disease or malabsorption or interfering drugs (10%). In symptomatic euthyroid patients, 20% of respondents would try combined LT4 + LT3 treatment. Psychosocial factors were highlighted as the main contributors to persistent symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: LT4 tablets is the preferred treatment for hypothyroidism in Belgium. A minority of the respondents would try combined LT4 + LT3 in symptomatic but biochemically euthyroid patients. Thyroid hormones are prescribed for euthyroid infertile women with thyroid autoimmunity and patients with non-toxic goiter, a tendency noted in other European countries, despite current evidence of lack of benefit

Le Cri - Edvard Munch

Face à la CRIse sanitaire qui nous submerge, le sentiment d’effroi qui nous accable - légitime ou non - peut trouver dans le célèbre tableau d’Edvard Munch, une résonance prophétique. Mais que représente le CRI ? [...

À propos de l’exposition Micro-art organisée par Arte-Fac : « Neural Bloom » -Micro-Art

Arte-Fac (https://www.artefac.be) est une association dont le but est de promouvoir, créer et stimuler la culture sur le site universitaire de l’UCLouvain en Woluwe

La scintigraphie thyroïdienne

La scintigraphie thyroïdienne reste un « examen de première ligne» dans la mise au point de nombreux désordres thyroïdiens. Elle constitue le seul outil fournissant à la fois des données physiologiques et anatomiques. Les isotopes utilisés sont de deux types, selon qu'ils permettent l'évaluation de la fonction ou de l'anatomie de la glande thyroïd

Fernando Botero : le colosse de l'art moderne le Picasso Colombien

Consciente en tant que médecin du caractère pratiquement « épidémique » que revêt actuellement l’obésité, il n’est pas surprenant que j’ai été attirée, puis interpellée, par des œuvres reprenant des êtres vivants, humains ou non, un peu énigmatiques, plutôt ronds