INTRODUCTION

CLINICAL FEATURES OF ORGAN SPECIFIC AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES

Immune mediated (Type-1A) diabetes (T1DMA)

Historical Background

The autoimmune polyglandular syndromes

PATHOPHYSIOLOGY CELLULAR AND SEROLOGICAL AUTOIMMUNITIES

Evidence for an Autoimmune Pathogenesis

THE AUTOANTIGENS IN APS

HUMORAL AUTOIMMUNITY

Adreno-cortical and Steroidal Cell Autoantibodies

Parathyroid Specific Autoantibodies

Pancreatic cell Autoantigens

Thyroid Autoantibodies

Autoantibodies in Atrophic Gastritis and Pernicious Anemia

Vitiligo Autoantibodies

Pituitary Autoantibodies

Other autoantibodies in APSs

Pathogenesis of Autoantibodies

CELLULAR AUTOIMMUNITY

Effector Functions

IMMUNO-GENETICS

Genetic Studies in APS-1:

Genetic founder Effects

Multiple Independent Events also Occurred for AIRE Mutations

What is the Role of the AIRE Gene in the Pathogenesis of APS-I?

Genetic Studies in APS-2a and APS-2b

THE CLINICAL SPECTRA OF APSs

APS-1

APS-2a and APS 2b

Other Associations with APS

DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS

DIAGNOSTIC PROTOCOLS

THERAPY OF AUTOIMMUNE ENDOCRINOPATHIES

PROGNOSIS

Clinical Relevance and Screening Protocols

Thyroiditis

Addison's Disease

Atrophic Gastritis

Steroidal Antibodies

CONCLUSIONS

References