Association between Helicobacter pylori infection and autoimmune Hashimoto’s thyroiditis

Background Autoimmune thyroid diseases are multifactorial conditions that result from genetic predisposition in combination with environmental risk factors. Some bacteria and viruses are suspected of being able to mimic the antigenic profile on the thyroid membrane and play an important role in the onset of autoimmune diseases. Aim The aim of this study was directed to investigate the association between Helicobacter pylori infection and Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT). Patients and methods The present study included 100 patients divided into two groups: patient group included 70 patients, newly diagnosed as having HT and control group included 30 age-matched and sex-matched apparently healthy individuals. All participants were subjected to assay of serum thyroid-stimulating hormone, free T3, free T4, thyroperoxidase antibodies, thyroglobulin antibodies, serum H. pylori Ab IgG, and fecal H. pylori antigen. Results In the present work, there was abnormal elevation of thyroid-stimulating hormone in 60 (85.7%) patients, compared with just one (3.3%) patient of control group, with statistically significant difference between groups. In the present work, there was significant and proportional (positive) correlation between H. pylori IgG and each of thyroperoxidase and anti-thyroglobulin values. Conclusion There is a significant association between HT and H. pylori infection. This association might be related to the disease severity and might reflect the need of adding anti-H. pylori medications as additional choice in management of HT.