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Abstract
The occurrence of autoimmune thyroid disorders among patients with coeliac disease
(CD) is well documented, but the exact prevalence of CD among patients with autoimmune
thyroid diseases (ATD) is as yet unclear. We screened 150 newly diagnosed patients
with ATD by serum endomysial antibody detection (EmA). In 5 subjects (3.3%) EmA positivity
was found; all underwent jejunal biopsy. On gluten-free diet an excellent clinical
and histological response was recorded with an improvement of hypothyroidism and reduction
of the thyroxine dosage. Our data suggest a significant high prevalence (3.3%) of
CD in patients with ATD, in particular with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.