Polyautoimmunity in a Greek cohort of multiple sclerosis

• Published in: Acta neurologica Scandinavica Vol. 131; no. 4; pp. 225 - 230
• Main Authors: Deretzi, G., Kountouras, J., Polyzos, S. A., Koutlas, E., Pelidou, S.-H., Xeromerisiou, G., Zavos, C., Tsiptsios, I.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Denmark Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.04.2015; Hindawi Limited
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Autoimmune Diseases - complications; Autoimmune Diseases - epidemiology; autoimmune tautology; Autoimmunity; Cohort Studies; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Greece - epidemiology; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; multiple autoimmune syndrome; multiple sclerosis; Multiple Sclerosis - complications; Multiple Sclerosis - immunology; polyautoimmunity; Prevalence; Greece; multiple autoimmune syndrome; polyautoimmunity; autoimmune tautology; multiple sclerosis
• ISSN: 0001-6314; 1600-0404
• DOI: 10.1111/ane.12308

Objectives The aim of this study was to assess the existence of polyautoimmunity in a Greek cohort of multiple sclerosis (MS), particularly multiple autoimmune syndrome (MAS), i.e., the presence of three or more distinct autoimmune disorders (ADs) in the same individual. Methods Cross‐sectional control study. Results The overall prevalence of polyautoimmunity in 2140 MS patients (female to male ratio: 2.1:1) was 8.3% (vs 6.07% in 1580 matched control participants, P = 0.008) mainly due to differences in autoimmune thyroid disorders (AITD) and vitiligo. The prevalence of MAS was 1.0%. The most frequent diseases encountered in MS were organ‐specific ADs. There was no statistical difference in the total rates of ADs between female and male MS patients. There were higher rates of AITD in women (P = 0.004) and higher rates of iritis (P = 0.039) and ankylosing spondylitis (P = 0.003) in men. MS was diagnosed in the same year with AD in 7.4% of patients with additional ADs, earlier than AD in 42.0% and later than AD in 50.6%. Conclusion Polyautoimmunity and particularly MAS occur more frequently in MS patients than in control participants indicating that MS may be part of a generalized susceptibility to autoimmunity. Therefore, polyautoimmunity may be implicated in the etiopathogenesis of MS‐related ADs, with a potential impact on relative therapeutic strategies.