Increased concentrations of autoantibodies
have been reported in various African groups
(4, 36-38). Their presence has been related to
malaria exposure (36, 37). A number of authors
(39-41) have commented on the rarity
of autoimmune disease in tropical Africa. All
the subjects in our study were clinically examined
and none had overt autoimmune disease,
despite the high prevalence of autoantibodies
in our population. Our most common
autoantibody (35% population) was reticulin
antibody which has been associated with
childhood celiac disease (42).