Frequency of abnormal thyroid function tests in Kuwaiti Arabs with autoimmune diseases

The purpose of this study was to examine the frequencies of abnormal thyroid function tests and serum thyroid autoantibodies in healthy Kuwaitis and those with autoimmune diseases. Serum concentrations of sensitive thyrotropin, and free thyroxine were measured in 577 apparently healthy controls, 177 patients with rheumatoid arthritis [RA], 60 with systemic lupus erythematosus [SLE] and 25 with primary Sjogren's syndrome [pSS] using the immunochemiluminescent assay method on IMMULITE 1000. Serum microsomal and thyroglobulin auto-antibodies were also measured by passive hemagglutination assay. For analysis of the thyroid function tests, the subjects were classified into five categories: normal, sub-clinical hypothyroidism, overt hypothyroidism, euthyroid sick syndrome and biochemical hyperthyroidism. Subclinical hypothyroidism was seen in 1.7% of healthy controls, 10.2% of RA, 13.3% of SLE, and 16% of pSS patients. Among RA patients, the frequency of subclinical hypothyroidism in females [11.4%] was significantly higher than among males [5.4%; p < 0.01]. In SLE and pSS patients, all those with sub-clinical hypothyroidism were females. Overt hypothyroidism was seen in 1.4% of controls, 10.2% of RA, 8.3% of SLE, and 4% of pSS patients. Biochemical hyperthyroidism was seen in 0.2% of controls, 4.5% of RA, 5% of SLE and none of pSS patients. The euthyroid sick syndrome was seen in 0.4% of controls, 13.6% of RA, 16.7% of SLE and in none of pSS patients. Thyroid autoantibodies were present in 3.1% of controls, 12.4% of RA, 18.3% of SLE, and 12% of pSS patients. Our data show that abnormal thyroid function tests and thyroid autoantibodies occur frequently in Kuwaitis with autoimmune diseases. Therefore, ordering these tests in these diseases is recommended

expression of rheumatoid arthritis in Kuwait patients in an outpatient hospital - based practice

To describe the characteristic clinical, serologic and radiological features of rheumatoid arthritis [RA] in Kuwaiti patients in a tertiary outpatient hospital-based practice. Subjects and An outpatient hospital-based study on 100 consecutive consenting Kuwaiti patients with RA was done at the Rheumatology Unit, Al-Amiri Hospital, one of the main teaching hospitals in Kuwait. The study group included 11 men and 89 women. The duration of their disease ranged from 2 to 30 years with a mean duration of 10.7 [SD 7.5] years. The age at disease onset ranged from 21 to 71 years with a mean age of 39.1 [SD 11.2] years. Joints most commonly involved in RA were metacarpophalangeal, wrist, knee, and proximal interphalangeal joints. Extra-articular manifestations were present in 24 patients; the most common was the sicca complex in 14 individuals. Rheumatoid factor seropositivity was found in 60 patients and erosive arthropathy in 42 patients. The findings indicate a low incidence of radiological erosive arthropathy in Kuwaiti patients. The sicca complex was the most common extra-articular manifestation of RA in these patients