Parvovirus B19 infection associated with Hashimoto's thyroiditis in adults.

Summary Objective Parvovirus B19 is a common human pathogen, which has been linked to autoimmune diseases recently. The aim of the study is to evaluate whether B19 is involved in adult Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT). Methods Eighty-six thyroid tissues from the adult patients with a spectrum of thyroid disorders were examined for B19 DNA and capsid protein by nested PCR, in-situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. The presence of viral DNA in HT epithelium was studied by laser-capture microdissection and sequencing of PCR products. The expressions of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and interleukin-6 were investigated by immunohistochemistry. Results B19 DNA was significantly present in HT tissues by both PCR (29/32, 90.6%) and in-situ hybridization (23/32, 71.9%, all p p Conclusions The presence of B19 nuclear acid and viral protein was significantly common in HT tissues and it suggested a possible role of B19 in adult HT.