ABSTRACT
Scleroderma is an important chronic disease with unknown ethiology and two subtypes: limited type: Skin involvement limited to distal of extremity and face. Diffuse type: Skin involvement is both distal and proximal of extremity, face and thrunk. Thyroid dysfunction is a main problem in these patients but there is no published data of Iranian scleroderma patients This is a cross-sectional study to determine the prevalence of hypothyroidism [clinical, subclinical and autoimmune] in patients with scleroderma 125 patients with scleroderma selected and T3, T4, TSH Anti Tpo Ab and Anti TG Ab measured in them. 33 patients with scleroderma had hypothyroidism. [%26/4]. Two patients with scleroderma had hyperthyroidism. [%1/6].%12/8 had clinical hypothyroidism. And%13/6 had subclinical hypothyroidism,%33/3 of patients with subclinical hypothyroidism and positive autoantibody had limited type. Where as%66/6 of patients with subclinical hypothyroidism and autoantibody had diffuse type,%28/5 of patients with clinical hypothyroidism and positive auto anti body had limited type. Where as%71/4 of patients with clinical hypothyroidism and auto anti body had diffuse type. All of patients with hyper thyroidism had diffuse type and autoantibody positive. It seems hypothyroidism has an increased prevalence in patients with scleroderma and we suggest that thyroid function test must be done in primary evaluation of these patients