Additional Autoimmune Diseases Research Articles

AB0562 Male versus Female Patients with Primary SjÖGren's Syndrome: A Comparison of Ethnicity, Clinical Features, Serology and Outcome in 156 Patients – is There a Male SjÖGren's Phenotype?

BackgroundThere are conflicting data from previous studies as to whether a male Sjögren's phenotype really exists. We have taken advantage of our own Sjögren's cohort (n=156) followed up for 27...

FRI0461 Subclinical Ovarian Dysfunction in Takayasu Arteritis Patients

BackgroundTakayasu arteritis (TA) is a rare idiopathic systemic chronic vasculitis that involves large arteries. This disease occurs mainly in female gender during the reproductive age and ovarian reserve and future...

Managing coeliac disease in patients with diabetes

The association between coeliac disease and type 1 diabetes has long been established. The combination of genetic susceptibility along with a potential role for gluten in the pathogenesis of autoimmunity makes defining gluten's role in type 1 diabetes extremely important. Evidence supporting the role of a gluten-free diet to improve complications associated with type 1 diabetes is not robust. However there is evidence to support improved growth, bone density and potentially the prevention of additional autoimmune diseases in patients with coeliac disease and type 1 diabetes. The gluten free diet is expensive and challenging to adhere to in people already on a modified diet. Early identification of those who have coeliac disease and would benefit from a gluten-free diet is of utmost importance to prevent complications associated with type 1 diabetes and coeliac disease.

Treatment of juvenile idiopathic arthritis: a revolution in care

A generation ago, children with arthritis faced a lifetime of pain and disability. Today, there are a multitude of treatment options, including a variety of biologics targeting key cytokines and other inflammatory mediators. While non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and corticosteroids were once the mainstay of therapy, they are now largely used as bridge or adjunctive therapies. Among the conventional disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs, methotrexate remains first-line therapy for most children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) due to its long track record of safety and effectiveness in the management of peripheral arthritis. Sulfasalazine and leflunomide may also have a secondary role. The tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) have shown tremendous benefit in children with polyarticular JIA and likely in enthesitis-related arthritis and psoriatic JIA as well. There may be additional benefit in combining TNFi with methotrexate. Abatacept and tocilizumab also appear to benefit polyarticular JIA; the role of rituximab remains unclear. For the treatment of systemic JIA, while the TNFi are of less benefit, blockade of interleukin-1 or interleukin-6 is highly effective. Additionally, interleukin-1 blockade appears to be effective treatment of macrophage activation syndrome, one of the most dangerous complications of JIA; specifically, anakinra in combination with cyclosporine and corticosteroids may obviate the need for cytotoxic approaches. In contrast, methotrexate along with the TNFi and abatacept are effective agents for the management of uveitis, another complication of JIA. Overall, the biologics have demonstrated an impressive safety record in children with JIA, although children do need to be monitored for rare but potentially dangerous adverse events, such as tuberculosis and other infections; paradoxical development of additional autoimmune diseases; and possibly an increased risk of malignancy. Finally, there may be a window of opportunity during which children with JIA will demonstrate most optimal responses to aggressive therapy, underscoring the need for rapid diagnosis and initiation of treatment.

Childhood and adolescent psoriasis in Greece: a retrospective analysis of 842 patients

Childhood and adolescent psoriasis is not an uncommon disease, but epidemiological information from a large series of studies is still lacking. Our purpose was to present the demographics, clinical features, and outcome of psoriasis appearing in Greek patients from infants up to adolescents. We conducted a retrospective analysis of 842 children and adolescents who diagnosed with psoriasis over a period of twenty years. The mean age of psoriasis onset was 7.33 years, and the sex distribution was equal between boys and girls. Plaque-type psoriasis was the most frequent type (82.1%), followed by perianal, inverse, and guttate. The limbs and the scalp were the main body areas affected. The affected body surface area (BSA) was more than 10% in only 1.7% of patients, and the overall disease manifestations were considered to be mild. Psoriatic nails were detected in 11.8% of patients, while psoriatic arthritis in only six (0.7%) patients. An additional autoimmune disease was present in 3.8% of patients, and 16.7% had a positive family history for first-degree relatives. The main choice of therapy was topical treatment. Gender distribution, type of psoriasis, and body area affection is almost the same as in adults. Most of the patients presented with mild disease of little extent, possibly indicating the favorable effect of sun in a Mediterranean country. The most often prescribed treatment for the majority of patients was topical.

Automated tests of ANA immunofluorescence as throughput autoantibody detection technology: strengths and limitations

Anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) assay is a screening test used for almost all autoimmune rheumatic diseases, and in a number of these cases, it is a diagnostic/classification parameter. In addition, ANA is also a useful test for additional autoimmune disorders. The indirect immunofluorescence technique on monolayers of cultured epithelial cells is the current recommended method because it has higher sensitivity than solid phase assays. However, the technique is time-consuming and requires skilled operators. Automated ANA reading systems have recently been developed, which offer the advantage of faster and much easier performance as well as better harmonization in the interpretation of the results. Preliminary validation studies of these systems have given promising results in terms of analytical specificity and reproducibility. However, these techniques require further validation in clinical studies and need improvement in their recognition of mixed or less common staining patterns.

A58: Demographics, Clinical Features and Therapies of Patients with Juvenile Dermatomyositis Participating in a National Myositis Patient Registry

Background/Purpose:The myositis syndromes are rare systemic autoimmune diseases with poorly understood etiologies. We present the demographics, illness features and treatments of patients with juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) who enrolled in a newly created national registry.Methods:Using a patient database from The Myositis Association and supplemental advertisements, a national registry of myositis patients was established. Between December 2010 and July 2012 questionnaires were mailed to 8847 myositis patients in the US and Canada. The questionnaire queried demographics, clinical features, environmental exposures, and quality of life. Descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression analysis were computed using GraphPad Prysm and SAS.Results:1956 patients (22%) returned the questionnaire and consented to participate; 1806 who met probable or definite Bohan and Peter criteria for myositis were included (708 DM, 483 PM, 466 IBM, 139 JDM, 10 JPM); juvenile patients were diagnosed before age 18 years. Of the 139 JDM patients, the median age at diagnosis was 6.9 years and median disease duration at enrollment was 10.3 years. Most JDM patients were female (78%) and Non‐Hispanic Caucasian (88%), and the remainder were Hispanic (6.5%), Asian (2.9%), multiple races (2.2%), and Black (0.7%). Patients or their parents often completed a graduate degree (23%) or college degree (29%). JDM patients were primarily diagnosed by a pediatric rheumatologist (48%), with adult and pediatric dermatologists (22%), pediatric neurologists and primary care physicians (11% each) diagnosing most of the remaining patients; 67% were under the care of a pediatric rheumatologist. JDM patients frequently had skin rashes as a major manifestation (86%); arthritis (35%) and dysphagia (32%) were also common, whereas lung disease (12%) was less frequent. An additional autoimmune disease was present in 18% of JDM patients, with JIA (8%) and SLE and celiac disease (3% each) the most frequent. There were no recorded associated malignancies. 98% of JDM patients received prednisone therapy. Methotrexate was the most common steroid‐sparing agent (84%), followed by hydroxychloroquine (60%), IV pulse solumedrol (54%), IVIG (48%), cyclosporine (19%), rituximab and anti‐TNFs (10% each). Predictors of which agents were received varied among medications, but included age, year of JDM diagnosis, gender, and region of country. Pulse solumedrol and cyclosporine were more likely to be used in JDM patients with dysphagia, hydroxychloroquine in patients with skin rashes and less likely in those with fevers, and azathioprine was less likely in patients with arthritis. Of medications utilized, 45% of JDM patients reported responding best to IVIG, 39% responded best to prednisone, 33% to anti‐TNFs, and 29% to cyclophosphamide.Conclusion:A nationwide myositis registry has been established and includes a subsample of JDM patients that appears demographically and clinically representative of other US populations. This registry may help identify environmental exposures associated with myositis, elucidate factors associated with quality of life, and serve as an important resource for future clinical investigations.

Long‐term suppression of EAE relapses by pharmacological impairment of epitope spreading

Immune events sustaining dendritic cell (DC)-dependent epitope spreading (ES) are of key relevance to the development of relapses during multiple sclerosis (MS). Although no drugs are currently available to target ES, its inhibition would represent a major advancement in MS therapy. Inhibitors of the enzyme PARP-1 afford protection in animal models of MS, such as experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). These drugs epigenetically impair antigen presentation by DCs, but whether these drugs affect ES is unknown. Here, we investigated whether short-term treatments with these compounds would impair ES, thereby preventing EAE relapses. We used a model of relapsing EAE in SJL mice and also adopted in vivo and ex vivo models of DC-dependent T-cell polarization. The effect of PARP-1 inhibitors on ES was evaluated at the humoral and cellular level. Short-term treatments with PARP-1 inhibitors during the acute phase of relapsing EAE of mice induced, at later times, more tolerogenic DCs, increased numbers of Treg cells and impairment of ES at the humoral and cellular level. These effects are followed by long-lasting reduction of relapse severity and incidence, although drug treatment had been discontinued for several weeks. PARP-1 inhibitors also induced tolerogenic DCs and increased Treg cells number and function in a model of ovalbumin immunization. Our data emphasize the therapeutic potential of PARP-1 inhibitors in the treatment of relapsing-remitting MS and additional ES-driven autoimmune disorders.

Autoantibodies against MHC class I polypeptide-related sequence A are associated with increased risk of concomitant autoimmune diseases in celiac patients

BackgroundOverexpression of autologous proteins can lead to the formation of autoantibodies and autoimmune diseases. MHC class I polypeptide-related sequence A (MICA) is highly expressed in the enterocytes of patients with celiac disease, which arises in response to gluten. The aim of this study was to investigate anti-MICA antibody formation in patients with celiac disease and its association with other autoimmune processes.MethodsWe tested serum samples from 383 patients with celiac disease, obtained before they took up a gluten-free diet, 428 patients with diverse autoimmune diseases, and 200 controls for anti-MICA antibodies. All samples were also tested for anti-endomysium and anti-transglutaminase antibodies.ResultsAntibodies against MICA were detected in samples from 41.7% of patients with celiac disease but in only 3.5% of those from controls (P <0.0001) and 8.2% from patients with autoimmune disease (P <0.0001). These antibodies disappeared after the instauration of a gluten-free diet. Anti-MICA antibodies were significantly prevalent in younger patients (P <0.01). Fifty-eight patients with celiac disease (15.1%) presented a concomitant autoimmune disease. Anti-MICA-positive patients had a higher risk of autoimmune disease than MICA antibody-negative patients (P <0.0001; odds ratio = 6.11). The risk was even higher when we also controlled for age (odds ratio = 11.69). Finally, we found that the associated risk of developing additional autoimmune diseases was 16 and 10 times as high in pediatric patients and adults with anti-MICA, respectively, as in those without.ConclusionsThe development of anti-MICA antibodies could be related to a gluten-containing diet, and seems to be involved in the development of autoimmune diseases in patients with celiac disease, especially younger ones.

Cortisol hyporesponsiveness to the low dose ACTH test is a frequent finding in a pediatric population with type 1 diabetes mellitus

In adults with type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM1), a 25% of risk of hypocortisolism has been found through a low dose ACTH test with negative antibodies suggesting other causes of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis dysfunction. To evaluate adrenal function in pediatric patients with DM1 and correlate the results with the frequency of hypoglycemia and metabolic control. Sixty-nine patients were enrolled, age 12.3 (5.7-18.1); 50 boys and 19 girls. A 20% had additional autoimmune diseases. Mean hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) was 8.1% and insulin dose was 1.14 U/kg/d. After an overnight fast, a low dose ACTH test (1 µg) was performed. Basal and stimulated cortisol concentrations, DHEAS, and plasma renin activity (PRA) were measured. A cortisol response post-ACTH below 18 µg/dL was considered abnormal. 58% of the tested patients had an abnormal response to ACTH test. These patients also had lower DHEAS concentrations, but were not different in diabetes duration, HbA1C, severe hypoglycemia, ACTH, or PRA concentrations compared to those who had a normal cortisol post-ACTH. One patient out of 59, had a positive anti-21-hydroxylase antibody (21OHA) and presented a poor response to ACTH. We found a significant proportion of our patients having a subnormal cortisol response independent of the presence of anti-adrenal cell antibodies. We did not find a correlation with metabolic control, probably due to the good metabolic control of this group. The absence of 21OHA does not rule out subclinical hypocortisolism in this population. Our results suggest testing adrenal function in children with DM1.

Autoimmune disease in people with multiple sclerosis and their relatives: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Additional autoimmune diseases in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) and their relatives have been studied many times. Studies have employed different designs, and yielded conflicting results. We performed a systematic review, and calculated overall risk of additional autoimmune diseases in people with MS and their first-degree relatives. PubMed and Web of Science were searched. Thyroid disease, diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were studied. A generic inverse variance model was used, and subgroup analysis was used to explore heterogeneity. The OR of thyroid disease was increased in both people with MS (OR 1.66; p < 0.00001) and their relatives (OR 2.38; p < 0.00001). A similar association was seen between MS and inflammatory bowel disease (OR 1.56; p < 0.0001) and psoriasis (OR 1.31; p < 0.0001), although not in relatives. There was no increase in the rate of either SLE or RA. Studies examining diabetes showed significant heterogeneity and evidence of publication bias. There is an increase in the rate of certain autoimmune diseases in people with MS and their first-degree relatives. However, this does not extend to all conditions studied. Given the nonspecific clinical presentation of thyroid disease, it should be considered in all people with MS presenting with nonspecific symptoms.

Hemorrhagic Shock Secondary to Portal Hypertensive Duodenopathy Complicated By Lupus and Autoimmune Liver Cirrhosis

Systemic lupus erythematosus is a common autoimmune disorder that frequently is complicated by additional autoimmune diseases. There is a correspondence between hepatic diseases and systemic lupus erythematosus that ranges from subclinical elevations of liver enzymes to hepatic infarction. We present a rare case of portal hypertensive duodenopathy in a patient with autoimmune hepatitis/liver cirrhosis associated with systemic lupus erythematosus. Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus who present with upper gastrointestinal bleed should be evaluated for abnormal liver functions and have portal hypertensive duodenopathy included in the differential diagnosis.

Mucosal Lichen Planus, a Systemic Disease Requiring Multidisciplinary Care

This study aimed to emphasize the importance of seeing mucosal lichen planus (LP) as a systemic disease and not an isolated oral or genital disease and to analyze the proportion of thyroid antibodies among patients with multimucosal LP. All patients examined by the authors and diagnosed with mucosal LP within 1 year were consecutively included. Full medical histories were collected with special emphasis on autoimmune and thyroid diseases. Sera were analyzed for thyroid antibodies and underwent serologic test for herpes virus. The control group comprised 83 healthy volunteers matched regarding sex and age. Of the patients, 120 were included, 89 (74%) of whom were women and 31 (26%) were men. The vast majority of the patients had multifocal lesions, whereas oral lesions solely were found in 28% of women and 36% of men. Of the patients, 28% had at least 1 additional autoimmune disease. Approximately half of the women were treated with levothyroxine owing to thyroid disease. Antibodies against herpes simplex virus were found in 60% of the patients and 44% of the controls (p < .03). Lichen planus with mucosal involvement should be considered and taken care of as a systemic disease and not as an isolated oral and/or genital lichen. Contradictory to many former reports, most of our patients have a multimucosal disease that emphasizes the need for a multidisciplinary clinic to get optimal care and treatment.

Associated autoimmune diseases in patients with multifocal motor neuropathy and their family members

Multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN) is a rare immune-mediated disorder and is characterized by male predominance, the presence of serum anti-GM1 IgM antibodies in up to half of all patients, responsiveness to intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIg) and an increased frequency of HLA type HLA-DRB1*15. The aim of this study was to assess whether the frequency of autoimmune diseases (AID) is increased in patients with MMN and their first-degree family members, since this would indicate that MMN shares pathogenic mechanisms with other AID. We conducted a case–control study using questionnaires to evaluate the prevalence of AID in MMN and controls, and their first-degree relatives. Questionnaires from 81 MMN patients (417 first-degree relatives) and 438 controls (2,377 first-degree relatives) were analyzed. Overall prevalence of AID was higher in MMN patients (11%) than in controls (5%) (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.1–5.5, p = 0.037). Type 1 diabetes, Hashimoto’s thyroid disease, and celiac disease were significantly more prevalent in family members of patients than controls. The presence of an additional AID was not associated with age at MMN onset, disease duration, titer of serum anti-GM1 IgM antibodies or HLA type HLA-DRB1*15. The higher frequency of AID in patients with MMN indicates a common autoimmune diathesis.

Autoimmunity to endoplasmic reticulum chaperone GRP94 in myasthenia gravis

Immune responses to ER stress have been closely related to the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. Using an immunoprecipitation assay, 24 (7.1%) of 336 MG serum samples immunoprecipitated a 90-kDa protein from the muscle cellular extracts, but none of the disease or healthy control sera. The 90-kDa protein was affinity-purified and found to match to ER chaperon GRP94 by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectroscopy analysis. The frequency of associated autoimmune diseases was much higher in the anti-GRP94-positive than the -negative patients (71% versus 11%, p < 0.001). Autoimmunity to ER chaperone GRP94 is associated with a subset of MG patients who have additional autoimmune diseases.

Increased interleukin-4-positive lymphocytes in patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis and concurrent non-endocrine autoimmune disorders.

A prevalent T helper type 1 (Th1) subset of lymphocytes has been described in Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT), but whether a similar polarization may characterize HT when associated with non-endocrine autoimmune disorders (NEAD) is not known. The aim of the present study was to analyse the intracellular Th1 and Th2 distinctive cytokines in patients with isolated HT or associated with non-endocrine autoimmune disorders. Intracellular cytokine expression was assessed in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) of 68 out-patients (females = 55; males = 13; median age = 6 years) with HT : 33 had isolated HT and 35 had a concurrent NEAD. The percentage of interferon (IFN)-γ and interleukin (IL)-2 Th1- and IL-4 Th2-positive cells was measured by flow cytometric analysis. We found an increased percentage of IL-2-positive cells in all patients, without differences between patients with isolated HT or associated with NEAD. IFN-γ(+) cells were also increased in both groups, but the median percentage of those with isolated HT was lower than in patients with HT+NEAD (19·0 versus 29·9%; P = 0·0082). An increased number of IL-4-positive cells was observed in three of 33 (9·1%) patients with isolated HT and in 25 of 35 patients with NEAD [71%; P < 0·0001; relative risk (RR) = 3·18]. The median values of IL-4(+) cells (HT = 5·0% versus HT + NEAD = 16·8%) confirmed this large difference (P < 0·0001). A clear-cut increase of IL-4(+) lymphocytes characterizes patients with autoimmune thyroiditis who have associated non-endocrine autoimmune disorders. These findings may represent an initial tool to detect patients with autoimmune thyroiditis in which additional non-endocrine autoimmune disorders may be awaited.

Additional Autoimmune Disease Found in 33% of Patients at Type 1 Diabetes Onset

OBJECTIVEWe sought to define the prevalence of nonislet, organ-specific autoantibodies at diagnosis of type 1 diabetes and to determine the prevalence of comorbid autoimmune diseases.RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODSChildren (n = 491) diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes were screened for autoimmune thyroid disease (thyroid peroxidase autoantibodies [TPOAb]), celiac disease (tissue transglutaminase autoantibodies [TTGAb]), and Addison disease (21-hydroxylase autoantibodies [21OHAb]).RESULTSOf the 491 children, 161 had at least one nonislet autoantibody, and of these, 122 (24.8%) were positive for TPOAb, and 15 of the 122 (12.3%) had autoimmune thyroid disease. There were 57 (11.6%) who were positive for TTGAb, of whom 14 (24.6%) had celiac disease. Five (1.0%) were positive for 21OHAb, of whom one had Addison disease.CONCLUSIONSMany autoantibody-positive subjects present with additional autoimmune disorders. Detection of these autoantibodies at type 1 diabetes onset may prevent complications associated with delayed diagnosis of these disorders.

Coexistent Autoimmunity in Familial Type 1 Diabetes: Increased Susceptibility in Sib-Pairs?

Background: Type 1 diabetes (T1D) patients are at risk for additional autoimmune diseases (AID). Objective: To compare the characteristics of associated autoimmunity among familial (parent-offspring and sib-pair) subgroups and sporadic T1D patients. Patients and Methods: Data regarding AID in T1D patients and their nuclear family members were extracted from medical files of 121 multiplex T1D families (58 parent-offspring, 63 sib-pairs) and 226 sporadic controls followed between 1979 and 2008. Results: The prevalence of associated autoimmunity was similar in familial and sporadic cases (33.6 vs. 32.7%). The frequency of additional AID and percentage of patients with two or more coexistent AID were significantly higher among sib-pairs than parent-offspring (p = 0.05 and p = 0.04, respectively). The median time elapsed between diagnosis of T1D and occurrence of additional autoimmunity tended to be shorter in the sib-pairs. Only in familial cases did a positive autoimmune family background predict the development of coexistent autoimmunity (OR = 2.11, CI [1.0, 4.49] p = 0.05). Conclusions: Among sib-pairs with T1D, the higher prevalence of additional AID, the increased number of diseases per person, and the relatively earlier appearance of associated AID suggest an increased susceptibility for coexistent autoimmunity in this subgroup. Positive family history for autoimmunity in multiplex T1D families increased their risk for co-occurrence of AID.

Polymyositis following Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada-like Syndrome in a Jack Russell Terrier

A male Jack Russell terrier developed bilateral uveitis and glaucoma at 1 year of age. Since the ocular disease was painful and unresponsive to treatment, both globes were enucleated. Microscopical evaluation of one enucleated globe revealed panuveitis, with pigment dispersion and phagocytosis consistent with the ocular lesions of canine Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH)-like syndrome. Three years later the dog was represented with severe muscle disease and skin lesions. Due to rapid clinical deterioration the dog was humanely destroyed. Necropsy examination revealed lichenoid interface inflammation in the skin and mucous membranes, with pigmentary incontinence consistent with VKH-like syndrome and lymphocytic and histiocytic polymyositis with marked muscle atrophy. Canine VKH-like syndrome is an autoimmune disease that targets melanocyte antigens. Some human patients with VKH disease develop additional autoimmune diseases. To our knowledge this is the first reported case of polymyositis subsequent to VKH-like disease in a dog. In addition, VKH-like disease has not been previously reported in a Jack Russell terrier.

406 Epidemiological Characteristics of Children and Adolescents with Autoimmune Thyroid Disease

Background/objective: Chronic autoimmune thyroiditis is the most common cause of thyroid dysfunction in children. The epidemiological and clinical characteristics of AT among children differ widely between studies.To investigate children with AT attending a major Pediatric Endocrinology Unit in Athens.Methods: Characteristics of 228 children and adolescents (mean±SD age: 10.2±2.5yrs) with AT were assessed retrospectively over ten years. Reasons for referral, family history of thyroid / other autoimmune disease and growth data were recorded. Laboratory evaluation and thyroid U/S scan was carried out in all patients. The patients' characteristics were analysed separately in three groups (euthyroid, subclinical hypothyroid and hypothyroid).Results: Main reasons for referral included growth evaluation (23%), goiter (18%) and positive family history (17%).174 patients (76,3%) had positive family history and 15(6,6%) an additional autoimmune disease.191 (83.8%) were female and 142 (62.3%) pubertal. Among the 228 children, 130 (57.0%) were euthyroid, 75 (32.9%) had subclinical hypothyroidism, 19 (8.3%) hypothyroidism and 4 (1.8%) hyperthyroidism. There was a positive correlation between TSH and thyroid volume SDS (r=0.15, p=0.02). Children with hypothyroidism had higher thyroid volume SDS (3.1±1.9 vs 1.2±1.2 p< 0.05) than euthyroid children. Sixty three children (28%) had goiter and 32(14%) had thyroid nodules. Three patients developed papillary carcinoma.Conclusion: Children and adolescents with AT are mostly asymptomatic; the majority are female, pubertal and euthyroid. Hypothyroid children have higher thyroid volume and increased prevalence of goiter compared to euthyroid children. Diagnosing AT at an early stage gives the opportunity to implement therapeutic measures aiming to prevent disease progression.