Introduction: Addison disease (primary insufficience of adrenal cortex) characterized by clinical signs and symptoms associated with deficiency of adrenal hormones. The most frequent etiopathogenesis of Addison disease is related with autoimmunization. In sera of Addison patients are detectable autoantibodies against another endocrine glands. The aim of the study was evaluation of pituitary autoantibodies in Addison disease patients using immunoblotting methods.
Material and methods: Studies were performed in 19 Addison disease patients, 16 women (age range: 28-63 yrs, median: 43.5 +/- 8.9) and 3 men (age range: 18-45 yrs, median: 30.6 +/- 9.8). All patients presented signs and symptoms typical of primary insufficiency of adrenal cortex. Sera of control subjects were obtained from 10 healthy blood donors, 7 women, 3 men (age range 21-45 yrs, median: 30.6 +/- 7.1). Incidence of pituitary autoantibodies was assessed by polyacrylamide electrophoresis gel and western-blotting. Pituitary microsomes were obtained from human pituitary tissues by ultracentrifugation and solubilisation in 1% desoxycholic acid.
Results: In 14 sera from 19 we detected autoantibodies against pituitary microsomal antigen 67 kDa, 12 sera were recting with 60 kDa and 10 sera with 55 kDa. It is important to note that 10 sera were reacting with 67 and 55 kDa, and 9 sera with 55, 60 and 67 kDa.
Conclusions: In sera of Addison disease patients autoantibodies against pituitary microsomal antigens can be frequently detected. The most frequent are antibodies against 55, 60 and 67 kDa antigens.