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Letter
Ultrastructural changes in enterocytes in subjects with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
  1. F C Sasso1,
  2. O Carbonara1,
  3. R Torella1,
  4. A Mezzogiorno2,
  5. V Esposito2,
  6. L deMagistris3,
  7. M Secondulfo3,
  8. R Carratu’3,
  9. D Iafusco4,
  10. M Cartenì5
  1. 1Department of Geriatrics and Metabolic Disease, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy
  2. 2Department of Public Health Human Anatomy Unit, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy
  3. 3Department “Magrassi Lanzara” Gastroenterology Unit, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy
  4. 4Department of Paediatric Diabetology Unit, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy
  5. 5Department of Experimental Medicine, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy
  1. Correspondence to:
    Dr F C Sasso
    Department of Geriatrics and Metabolic Disease, Second University of Naples, Via F Petrarca, 64 Naples, Italy; ferdinando.sassounina2.it

https://doi.org/10.1136/gut.2004.047498

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    We have recently described1 mucosal ultrastructural impairments, such as height and thickness of microvilli, space between microvilli, and thickness of tight junctions, in non-coeliac type 1 diabetic patients after a preliminary report of an alteration in intestinal mucosal permeability (IP) evaluated by the lactulose/mannitol (LA/MA) test.2,3

    Therefore, in the “aetiological” classification of autoimmunity based on initiating factors,4 the category of diet induced diseases could be expanded to include type 1 diabetes and, perhaps, other endocrine autoimmune diseases.

    Thyroiditis is the most frequently associated autoimmune endocrine disease with type 1 diabetes. Moreover, type 1 diabetes and Hashimoto thyroiditis present similar pathogenetic mechanisms of cellular damage, a cell mediated autoimmunity induced by Th1 cytokines. However, mucosal intestinal morphology and function have not yet been studied in autoimmune thyroiditis patients. Hence we investigated intestinal mucosal ultrastructural morphology and IP in a group of patients with autoimmune thyroiditis. The study was approved by the local ethics committee.

    Fourteen patients (12 females and 2 males; mean age 33.2 (SD 10.2) years) and 23 controls (12 females and 11 males; mean …

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