Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction

A strong association between autoimmune atrophic gastritis and other autoimmune disorders has been well documented. The prevalence of gastric mucosa alterations in patients with thyroid autoimmunity is not well known. The aim of our study was to assess the prevalence of intestinal metaplasia in patients with Graves’ disease (GD) and positive anti-parietal cell antibodies (APCA).

Methods

This is a single-center observational study in an outpatient clinic of autoimmune endocrinopathies at a Tertiary, General, University Hospital. Patients with GD and increased levels of thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulin (TSI >1.75 IU/l) were included in the study. Laboratory tests for TSH, T3, FT4, TSI, APCA, TgAbs, TPOAbs, blood count, liver enzymes and thyroid sonography were performed in all patients. All APCA positive patients underwent OGD.

Results

A total of 107 patients were analyzed, of whom females were 75.4% (81/107). The mean age and BMI of the patients were 46.5±14 years and 25.9±4.7 mg/kg² (18.7–36.8), respectively. TPOAbs were present in 65.5% (55/84), TgAbs in 47.6% (40/84) and APCA in 12.7% (9/71) of the patients. 14.6% (14/96) of the patients had undergone thyroidectomy. Personal history for other autoimmunities was present in 21.7% (18/83) and family history for thyroid autoimmunity in 49.5% (50/101) of the patients. 9/101 (8.9%) patients had PTC and 7/101 (6.9%) had other cancers. Histology in the 9 APCA positive patients revealed gastric atrophy in 55.6%, ECL hyperplasia in 33.3%, intestinal metaplasia in 44.4%, and Helicobacter pylori infection in 22.2% of the patients.

Conclusion

According to our study, intestinal metaplasia is a frequent finding in APCA positive patients with Graves’ disease.