Anti-thyroid antibodies in Italian scleroderma patients: association of anti-thyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO) antibodies with HLA-DR15.

Abstract

A considerable number of patients with scleroderma have antibodies to thyroid antigens without exhibiting any alterations of their thyroid function. HLA-DR15 is an immunogenic marker for the formation of antibodies against microsomal thyroid peroxidase.