How do autoimmune diseases cluster in families? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: A primary characteristic of complex genetic diseases is that affected individuals tend to cluster in families (that is, familial aggregation). Aggregation of the same autoimmune condition, also referred to as familial autoimmune disease, has been extensively evaluated. However, aggregation of diverse autoimmune diseases, also known as familial autoimmunity, has been overlooked.

Autoimmune thyroid disease in rheumatoid arthritis: a global perspective.

Objective. To determine the prevalence and impact of autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods.

Sjögren's syndrome at the crossroad of polyautoimmunity.

The coexistence of autoimmune diseases (i.e., polyautoimmunity) in Sjögren's syndrome (SS) was investigated in a cross-sectional study involving 410 patients.