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Correlation of Serum Thyroid Hormones Autoantibodies with Self-Reported Exposure to Thyroid Disruptors in a Group of Nonsegmental Vitiligo Patients

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Abstract

Vitiligo is a pigmentary disorder strongly associated with autoimmune thyroid disorders (ATD). Thyroid hormones antibodies (THAb) directed toward thyroxine (T3) and triiodothyronine (T4) (T3- and T4-Ab) are rare in the general population but are increased in individuals wit ATD and extrathyroid autoimmune disorders. Because it is known that alcohol, smoke, iodine, and some thyroid disruptors can elicit the appearance of ATD, the aim of our study was to evaluate possible correlation between T3- and T4-Ab expression and past toxic exposures in vitiligo patients. Seventy vitiligo patients were examined and self-reported exposure to thyroid disruptors (4,4′-isopropylidenediphenol, perchlorates, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), hexachlorobenzene, resorcinol, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, alachlor/amitriole, nitrate, thiocyanate, soy isoflavones), iodine intake, smoke, and alcohol consumption were investigated through standardized questionnaires. Immunoglobulin (Ig)M-T3-Ab, IgG-T3-Ab, IgM-T4-Ab,and IgG-T4-Ab were dosed by a radioimmunoprecipitation technique. Seventy-seven (95.7 %) patients had at least one type of THAb. Most of them had contemporarily both T3- and T4-Ab (50/70). We found a significant association between PCBs and T4-IgG-Ab (P = 0.039) and between food intake containing nitrate, thiocyanate, and soy isoflavones with (IgM + IgG)-T3-Ab (P = 0.041). Our study underlines a possible influence of diet and environment in vitiligo patients in eliciting THAb. Therefore, in the event of a positive exposure to thyroid disruptors, an evaluation of thyroid function might be useful to early detect possible associated thyroid autoantibodies such as THAb.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Section of Dermatology, Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy

    Roberta Colucci, Meena Arunachalam, Federica Dragoni & Silvia Moretti

  2. Sexual Medicine and Andrology Unit, Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy

    Francesco Lotti

  3. Dermatology and Venereology Division, Guglielmo Marconi University, Rome, Italy

    Torello Lotti

  4. Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy

    Salvatore Benvenga

  5. Interdepartmental Program of Molecular & Clinical Endocrinology, and Women’s Endocrine Health, University Hospital, Messina, Italy

    Salvatore Benvenga

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  1. Roberta Colucci
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  2. Francesco Lotti
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Correspondence to Roberta Colucci.

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Colucci, R., Lotti, F., Arunachalam, M. et al. Correlation of Serum Thyroid Hormones Autoantibodies with Self-Reported Exposure to Thyroid Disruptors in a Group of Nonsegmental Vitiligo Patients. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 69, 181–190 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-015-0138-7

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