[Role of Yersinia infection in the pathogenesis of diffuse toxic goiter].

Antibodies to Yersinia enterocolitica were tested in 87 patients with diffuse toxic goiter. They were detected in 32.1% of the patients and only 4.8% of the control group patients (p less than 0.01). The role of Yersinia infection in breakdown of natural tolerance to autologous thyroid tissue is discussed.