Recent advances in understanding autoimmune thyroid disease: the tallest tree in the forest of polyautoimmunity

TY - JOUR

T1 - Recent advances in understanding autoimmune thyroid disease

T2 - the tallest tree in the forest of polyautoimmunity

AU - Bliddal, Sofie

AU - Nielsen, Claus Henrik

AU - Feldt-Rasmussen, Ulla

PY - 2017

Y1 - 2017

N2 - Autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) is often observed together with other autoimmune diseases. The coexistence of two or more autoimmune diseases in the same patient is referred to as polyautoimmunity, and AITD is the autoimmune disease most frequently involved. The occurrence of polyautoimmunity has led to the hypothesis that the affected patients suffer from a generalized dysregulation of their immune system. The present review summarizes recent discoveries unravelling the immunological mechanisms involved in autoimmunity, ranging from natural autoimmunity to disease-specific autoimmunity. Furthermore, the clinical grounds for considering AITD in a setting of polyautoimmunity are explored. A better understanding of these may pave the way for designing new treatment modalities targeting the underlying immune dysregulation when AITD appears in the context of polyautoimmunity.

AB - Autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) is often observed together with other autoimmune diseases. The coexistence of two or more autoimmune diseases in the same patient is referred to as polyautoimmunity, and AITD is the autoimmune disease most frequently involved. The occurrence of polyautoimmunity has led to the hypothesis that the affected patients suffer from a generalized dysregulation of their immune system. The present review summarizes recent discoveries unravelling the immunological mechanisms involved in autoimmunity, ranging from natural autoimmunity to disease-specific autoimmunity. Furthermore, the clinical grounds for considering AITD in a setting of polyautoimmunity are explored. A better understanding of these may pave the way for designing new treatment modalities targeting the underlying immune dysregulation when AITD appears in the context of polyautoimmunity.

U2 - 10.12688/f1000research.11535.1

DO - 10.12688/f1000research.11535.1

M3 - Review

C2 - 29043075

SN - 2046-1402

VL - 6

JO - F1000Research

JF - F1000Research

M1 - 1776

ER -