These findings provide evidence of strong HHV-6 infection association with AIT development.

The aim of this study was to investigate the role of human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) in autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT) development. We examined the possible involvement of HHV-6 gene expression encoding immunomodulating proteins U12 and U51 in AIT development and their role in the modulation of chemokine signaling. One hundred patients with autoimmune thyroiditis following thyroidectomy were enrolled in this study. Nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR) was used to detect the HHV-6 sequence in DNA samples. Reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) with three different HHV-6 gene targets (U79/80, U51 and U12) was to detect active infection markers. HHV-6 load was identified using a commercial real-time PCR kit. Immunohistochemistry was performed to investigate the expression of the HHV-6 antigen and RANTES (Regulated upon Activation, Normal T Cell Expressed and Secreted) in thyroid gland tissue. Different commercial immunosorbent assay kits were used for the detection of RANTES, IFNγ, IL-6, and TNFα levels in the AIT patient group and controls. We detected 98% presence of the HHV-6 genomic sequence in AIT patients’ thyroid gland tissues. Markers of active HHV-6 infection (HHV-6 U79/80, U12 and/or U51 mRNA) were predominant in AIT patients’ thyroid tissue samples in comparison with the control group (56% vs. 6%). Evidence from immunofluorescence microscopy showed that HHV-6 can persist in thyrocytes and can interact with RANTES. Visual confirmation of the intense immunofluorescence signal of RANTES detected in thyroid tissues could indicate high expression of this chemokine in the thyroid gland. On the other hand, immunosorbent assays showed very low RANTES levels in AIT patients’ peripheral plasma. These results indicate that RANTES level in AIT patients could be influenced by HHV-6 activation, which in turn may aid AIT development.

Background and Objectives: Viral infections are frequently cited as a major environmental factor implicated in thyroid gland diseases. This work aimed to estimate the presence of B19V infection in patients with thyroid gland disorders. Materials and Methods: Thyroid gland tissue and blood samples of 50 patients with autoimmune thyroid gland diseases (AITDs), 76 patients with non-autoimmune thyroid gland diseases (non-AITDs), and 35 deceased subjects whose histories did not show any autoimmune or thyroid diseases (control group) were enrolled in the study. Virus-specific IgM and IgG were detected using ELISA, and the presence and viral load of B19V in the tissue and blood were detected using PCRs. Results: B19V IgG antibodies were detected in 35/50 AITDs patients and in 51/76 non-AITDs patients, and B19V IgM antibodies were detected in 1/50 patients with AITDs and in none of the 76 patients with non-AITDs. The B19V NS sequence was found in the tissue DNA of 10/50 patients with AITDs, in 30/76 with non-AITDs, and in 1/35 control group individuals. The median B19V load in the tissue of patients with AITDs and non-AITDs was 423.00 copies/µg DNA (IQR: 22.50–756.8) and 43.00 copies/µg DNA (IQR: 11.50–826.5), respectively. The viral load in one of the 35 nPCR B19V-positive thyroid tissue samples from the deceased subjects was 13.82 copies/µg DNA. The viral load in the tissue of patients with AITDs was higher than in whole blood, which possibly indicates B19V persistency in thyrocytes (p = 0.0076). Conclusion: The fact that the genoprevalence of B19V NS was significantly higher in patients with non-AITDs compared to the control group and in the thyroid gland tissue of patients with AITDs, and that the non-AITDs viral load was higher than in tissue derived from the control group individuals, suggest the possibility that B19V infection could be involved in the development of thyroid gland diseases.

The study of human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) involvement in autoimmunity development is very challenging, due to the complex nature of this virus. HHV-6 is a ubiquitous, lifelong persistent, and immunomodulating virus, which mainly spreads in solid tissues using cell-to-cell mechanics, and thus can escape from the host’s immune response.

28Summary Introduction. Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is one of the most commonly known and widely researched haematological diseases. ITP manifests as decrease in platelet count of various degrees, which can even cause fatal bleeding from 0.4 -13% annually. Glucocorticoids (GC) and intravenous immunoglobulin (IgG) are used as the first line of treatment, 20-50% of drug therapy is ineffective and splenectomy is "the second stage" of treatment. Various sources of literature mention the range of ITP remission following splenectomy from 49 -93%. Current studies are looking for prognostic factors, which would ensure complete ITP remission following splenectomy. Aim of the Study. To analyse possible perioperative prognostic factors in ITP patients for achieving remission following splenectomy. Materials and methods. The retrospective study included 13 patients diagnosed with immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), who underwent surgery in the period from 2002 to 2009 at the Riga Eastern Clinical University Hospital "Linezers". From laboratory tests -full blood-count 1 -2 days before the operation, on the 5th -7th day following the operation, 1 month after the operation, one year after the operation and during the last follow-up found in the patient's out-patient file. The size of the spleen before the surgery was determined by ultrasonography. The access to the abdominal cavity and the spleen -conventional or laparoscopic surgery, the duration of the operation, perioperative blood loss, post-operative complications and the patient's day of discharge following the surgery was analysed. Results. In the period from January 2002 to January 2009 at RECUH clinic "Linezers" 13 ITP patients underwent surgery. As to the gender the average age for both genders was similar (men 39.0 ± 14.1 and women 39.0 ± 16.0). The mean value of the duration of the disease in women (8.0 ± 9.0 months) and men (68.1 ± 58.7 months) has a statistically significant difference, using the independent pair selection t-test (t = 2.38; p = 0.047). In one US case and in one CT case accessory spleens were detected. The preoperative mean value of PLT count had increased in a statistically significant way in accordance with the independent pair selection t-test (t = 3.087; p = 0.009), and in accordance with Wilcoxon signed-rank test (z = 2,202; p = 0,028) compared to the mean value of PLT count, which was detected during the last follow-up visit on average 35.9 ± 35.9 months after the surgery. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) shows that the average age of cured patients 34.6 ± 9.8 is statistically less significant than for those patients, who continue treatment and whose disease has transformed (F = 7.327; p = 0.011). Conclusions. The performed research allows concluding that the decisive factors in successful ITP outcome after the operation are the following: 1) in patients, who have undergone the operation in a relatively younger age (34.6 ± 9.8 years) the disease outcome is more successful during the follow -up period -35.9 ± 35.9 months (F = 7.327; ...