Investigation of Erythrovirus B19 (Parvovirus B19) frequency in autoimmune thyroid patients

EVB19 antibodies can recognize auto-antigens by using molecular mimicry mechanism. Besides in many published EVB19-related autoimmune diseases; polyspecific or organ-specific antibodies were reported. EVB 19 is accused in the pathogenesis of many diseases. Especially EVB19 is very important in the pathogenesis of autoimmune thyroid diseases. Thus in some case presentations; it was shown that EVB19 might be related with Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Although etiology of Graves disease and Hashimoto's thyroiditis is not known exactly; they are thought to occur as a result of interaction of genetic and environmental factors. Infections are one of the environmental factors which were alleged to be involved in the pathogenesis but this was not proved. Parvovirus B19, is a unproven viral agent, which was thought to play a role in pathogenesis. In this study; the prevalence of EVB19 was studied in autoimmune thyroid patients. This study was conducted on patients who were followed-up in the Endocrinology and Internal Medicine Polyclinics and who agreed to participate in the study. Total 90 individuals were counted in this study including 30 patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis, 30 patients with Graves disease and 30 control individuals who were compatible in terms of age. EVB19 IgG-IgM was studied manually using immunological ELISA method and values were read in spectrophotometer. According to results of this study; there was no significant difference for Parvovirus B19 IgG-M levels between patients with autoimmune thyroid disease and control group. Key words: Autoimmune thyroid disease, Graves disease, Hashimoto thyroiditis, ParvovirusB19 IgG-IgM.