Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2017 Nov;6(6):298-306.
doi: 10.1159/000479964. Epub 2017 Sep 19.

Are Perinatal Events Risk Factors for Childhood Thyroid Autoimmunity?

Berglind Jonsdottir  1 , Markus Lundgren  1 , Sara Wallengren  1 , Åke Lernmark  1 , Ida Jönsson  1 , Helena Elding Larsson  1 ; DiPiS Study Group
Affiliations

Are Perinatal Events Risk Factors for Childhood Thyroid Autoimmunity?

Berglind Jonsdottir et al. Eur Thyroid J. 2017 Nov.

Abstract

Background: Environmental and genetic factors possibly trigger thyroid autoimmunity. Studies on perinatal risk factors for childhood thyroid autoimmunity are sparse.

Objectives: The aim was to investigate if perinatal factors, family history of autoimmune diseases, and HLA-DQ genotypes contribute to thyroid autoimmunity in the Diabetes Prediction in Skåne (DiPiS) study.

Methods: Samples from 1,874 ten-year-old children were analyzed for autoantibodies to thyroid peroxidase (TPOAb), thyroglobulin (TGAb), and HLA-DQ genotypes. Information on perinatal events and family history of autoimmunity was gathered prospectively in questionnaires.

Results: Thyroid autoimmunity was found in 6.9% of the children (TPOAb 4.4%, TGAb 5.8%, both autoantibodies 3.3%) and was overrepresented in girls. Prematurity was positively related to TGAb (OR: 2.4, p = 0.003, pc = 0.021). Autoimmune diseases in the family increased the risk of thyroid autoimmunity: TPOAb (OR: 2.2, p = 0.012), any autoantibody (OR: 1.7, p = 0.04), and both autoantibodies (OR: 2.2, p = 0.024). A first-degree relative (FDR) with thyroid disease increased the risk for TPOAb (OR: 2.4, p = 0.03) and both autoantibodies (OR: 2.6, p = 0.03), a FDR or sibling with celiac disease increased the risk for both autoantibodies (OR: 3.7, p = 0.03, and OR: 4.8, p = 0.003), a FDR or sibling with diabetes increased the risk for thyroid autoantibody (OR: 3.0, p = 0.01, and OR: 5.4, p = 0.032), and a father with rheumatic disease increased the risk for TPOAb (OR: 15.2, p = 0.017), TGAb (OR: 11.3, p = 0.029), any autoantibody (OR: 9.6, p = 0.038), and both autoantibodies (OR: 20, p = 0.01).

Conclusions: Thyroid autoimmunity was found in 6.9% of the 10-year-old children who were being followed for their risk of type 1 diabetes. No relation to perinatal factors was found, with the exception of a possible association between prematurity and TGAb. Family history of autoimmune diseases increased the risk of thyroid autoimmunity.

Keywords: Childhood thyroid autoimmunity; HLA-DQ genotypes; Perinatal and hereditary risk factors; Thyroglobulin autoantibodies; Thyroid peroxidase autoantibodies.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Flow chart of the DiPiS study from cord samples to analysis of thyroid autoimmunity at 10 years of age with information on type 1 diabetes diagnosis before 10 years of age.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
Flow chart of the distribution of thyroid autoantibodies and questionnaire data in the study population.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Sinclair D. Analytical aspects of thyroid antibodies estimation. Autoimmunity. 2008;41:46–54. - PubMed
    1. Abraham-Nordling M, Bystrom K, Torring O, Lantz M, Berg G, Calissendorff J, Nystrom HF, Jansson S, Jorneskog G, Karlsson FA, Nystrom E, Ohrling H, Orn T, Hallengren B, Wallin G. Incidence of hyperthyroidism in Sweden. Eur J Endocrinol. 2011;165:899–905. - PubMed
    1. Hunter I, Greene SA, MacDonald TM, Morris AD. Prevalence and aetiology of hypothyroidism in the young. Arch Dis Child. 2000;83:207–210. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Wasniewska M, Corrias A, Salerno M, Mussa A, Capalbo D, Messina MF, Aversa T, Bombaci S, De Luca F, Valenzise M. Thyroid function patterns at Hashimoto's thyroiditis presentation in childhood and adolescence are mainly conditioned by patients' age. Horm Res Paediatr. 2012;78:232–236. - PubMed
    1. Oderda G, Rapa A, Zavallone A, Strigini L, Bona G. Thyroid autoimmunity in childhood celiac disease. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2002;35:704–705. - PubMed