Autoimmune thyroid disease in systemic lupus erythematosus. Issue 1 (1st January 2002)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pyne, D; Isenberg, D A
• Is Part Of: Annals of the rheumatic diseases. Volume 61:Issue 1(2002)
• Page Start: 70
• Page End: 72
• Publication Date: 2002-01-01
• Subjects: thyroid disease -- systemic lupus erythematosus -- thyroid autoantibodies; ELISA, enzyme linked immunosorbent assay -- SLE, systemic lupus erythematosus -- TSH, thyroid stimulating hormone; Rheumatism -- Periodicals; 616.723005
• DOI: 10.1136/ard.61.1.70
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0003-4967

Abstract

Abstract : Background: The reported prevalence of autoimmune thyroid disease (3.9–24%) and antithyroid antibodies (11–51%) in SLE varies considerably. Early reports were mainly based on short term studies of small cohorts. Objective: To report the prevalence of autoimmune thyroid disease and thyroid antibodies in 300 patients with SLE, followed up at our centre between 1978 and 2000, by a retrospective analysis of case notes. Results: The prevalence (5.7%) of hypothyroidism in our cohort was higher than in the normal population (1%), while that of hyperthyroidism (1.7%) was not significantly different. Overall 42/300 (14%) of our cohort had thyroid antibodies, rising to 15/22 (68%) in the subgroup who also had thyroid disease (p<0.001). Both antimicrosomal and antithyroglobulin antibodies were detected. The antibodies were found in equally high frequency in the hyperthyroid subgroup (80% patients), whereas in the hypothyroid subgroup antimicrosomal antibodies were more frequent than antithyroglobulin antibodies (64% v 41%). There was no significant difference in the frequency with which antimicrosomal or antithyroglobulin antibodies were detected between the hyperthyroid and hypothyroid subgroups (p>0.2). Conclusion: Our patients with SLE had a prevalence of hypothyroidism, but not hyperthyroidism, greater than that of the normal population. The presence of either condition was associated with a higher frequency of both antimicrosomal and antithyroglobulin antibodies.