THE ASSOCIATION OF AUTOIMMUNE DISORDERS WITH INFLAMMATORY BOWEL-DISEASE

  • 1 September 1989
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 72  (269) , 835-840
Abstract
Medical records of patients with ulcerative colitis (n = 858), Crohn''s disease (n = 378) and coeliac disease (n = 148) were examined to determine the prevalence of associated autoimmune disorders. Of outpatient controls (n = 300), 2 per cent had at least one autoimmune disorder, compared to 7 per cent with ulcerative colitis, 2 per cent with Crohn''s disease and 6 per cent with coeliac disease. Inclusion of primary sclerosing cholangitis with the autoimmune disorders increased the overall prevalence in ulcerative colitis to over 9 per cent. The results provide further indirect evidence of involvement of autoimmune mechanisms in the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis.