Abstract

MALLEA GIL, M.S. et al. Possible association of Type II Autoimmune Polyendrocrine Syndrome with HLA DRB1*-DQB1*. Rev. argent. endocrinol. metab. [online]. 2010, vol.47, n.4, pp.44-48. ISSN 1851-3034.

Autoimmune polyendocrine syndromes (APS) are the association of autoimmune endocrine diseases with other non-endocrine autoimmune disorders. Type II APS is defined by occurrence of Addison´s disease with thyroid autoimmune disease and/or type 1 diabetes mellitus. We present a 46-year-old male patient who was hospitalized because of asthenia, adynamia, hyporexia, severe loss of weight, dizziness and vomiting. Diabetes mellitus had been diagnosed 3 years earlier when he was obese. He presented arterial hypotension, anemia, darkening of the skin and oral mucosa, hyponatremia and frequent hypoglycemia although his insulin dose was decreased. Adrenal insufficiency was diagnosed together with hypothyroidism and type 1 diabetes, all of them of autoimmune origin. Hormonal replacement treatment was initiated. Genetic studies were performed and a new polymorphism was found. Conclusions: HLA DRB1 *08 found in our patient has not been described in APS II or in any other autoimmune disorders. He also has HLA DQB1*0302 described in previous reports related to APS II. In type 1 diabetic patients whose insulin requirement decreases, it would be advisable to rule out adrenal insufficiency, a component of APS II, as an etiologic factor in spite of its low prevalence. In diabetic obese patients (mainly young) who lose weight without a defined cause, type 1 diabetes mellitus should be excluded.

Keywords : Type II autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome; Autoimmunity.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )