Polyglandular autoimmune syndromes.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, scientific knowledge pertaining to the rare ORPHAN polyglandular autoimmune syndrome (registered code ORPHA 282196) has accumulated.

OBJECTIVE: To offer current demographic, clinical, serological and immunogenic data on PAS.

METHODS: Review of the pertinent and current literature.

RESULTS: Polyglandular autoimmune syndromes (PAS) are multifactorial diseases with at least two coexisting autoimmune-mediated endocrinopathies. PAS show a great heterogeneity of syndromes and manifest sequentially with a large time interval between the occurrence of the first and second glandular autoimmune disease. PAS cluster with several non-endocrine autoimmune diseases. In most endocrinopathies of PAS, the autoimmune process causes an irreversible loss of function, while chronic autoimmune aggressions can simultaneously modify physiological processes in the affected tissue and lead to altered organ function. The rare juvenile PAS type I is inherited in a monogenetic manner, whereas several susceptibility gene polymorphisms have been reported for the more prevalent adult types. Relevant for a timely diagnosis at an early stage is the screening for polyglandular autoimmunity in patients with monoglandular autoimmune disease and/or first degree relatives of patients with PAS. The most prevalent adult PAS type is the combination of type 1 diabetes with autoimmune thyroid disease.

CONCLUSIONS: Early detection of specific autoantibodies and latent organ-specific dysfunction is advocated to alert physicians to take appropriate action in order to prevent full-blown PAS disease.