ABSTRACT
Objective:Through the detection of iodine nutrition level and thyroid function of pregnant women in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (Xinjiang), to preliminary study the pregnant women's iodine nutrition level, thyroid function status and the relationship between the two and influencing factors.Methods:From March to June in 2020, stratified cluster random sampling method was adopted. Two counties (cities) in Southern and Northern Xinjiang were selected as survey sites, and about 100 pregnant women (a total of 412) were selected from each county (city) as survey subjects. Random urine samples and blood samples were collected to detect urinary iodine and serum thyroid function indicators [thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free triiodothyronine (FT 3), free thyroxine (FT 4), anti-thyroglobulin antibody (Tg-Ab) and anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPO-Ab)]. Results:The median and interquartile range [ M ( Q1, Q3)] of pregnant women's urinary iodine was 228.4 (143.15, 327.95) μg/L. Serum FT 3, FT 4 and TSH levels [ M ( Q1, Q3)] were 4.22 (3.92, 4.61), 13.79 (12.63, 15.26) pmol/L and 1.82 (1.26, 2.52) mU/L, respectively. The overall positive rates of Tg-Ab and TPO-Ab were 5.61% (23/412) and 11.95% (49/412), respectively. The positive rates of Tg-Ab and TPO-Ab in Southern and Northern Xinjiang were 4.78% (10/209), 10.05% (21/209), 6.40% (13/203) and 13.79% (28/203), respectively. The positive rates of Tg-Ab and TPO-Ab in Northern Xinjiang were higher than those in Southern Xinjiang, but the difference was not statistically significant (χ 2 = 1.31, 2.17, P > 0.05). The positive rate of TPO-Ab in pregnant women was the influencing factor of abnormal thyroid function, and the odds ratio ( OR) [95% confidence interval ( CI)] was 3.22 (1.31 - 7.93). Conclusions:Pregnant women in Xinjiang are generally at an appropriate level of iodine, but the state of thyroid function still needs continuous attention. In addition, it is necessary to strengthen the thyroid function examination of pregnant women with positive thyroid autoantibodies to prevent and control the occurrence of abnormal thyroid function in pregnant women.
ABSTRACT
Reversible splenial lesion syndrome (RESLES) is a rare clinical imaging syndrome caused by various etiologies and has no specific clinical manifestations, of which magnetic resonance imaging is characterized by reversible splenial lesion. Its etiology is complex, with infection more common, rare due to thyroid disease.The clinical data of a patient of RESLES with significantly increased anti-thyroid antibody are reported to enrich the etiology and further improve the understanding of the disease.
ABSTRACT
Objective To systematically evaluate the diagnosis value of thyroid autoantibodies in hashimo-to′s thyroiditis.Methods Through the systematic retrieval of the Chinese periodical full text database (CNKI),the full text database of Chinese sci-tech periodicals (VIP),the Wanfang database,the PubMed,EM-base,Scopus,Cochrane library,the database of academic dissertations at home and abroad,the database of the conference papers and so on,all formally published scientific research literature from the establishment of da-tabase to January 2017 were retrieved.The retrieval conditions included "thyroid autoantibody","thyroid per-oxidase antibody"or "TPOAb","thyroid globulin antibody" or "TGAb","thyroid microsome antibody" or "TMAb","thyrotropin receptor antibody"or "TRAb","Hashimoto""Mastitis"or "Hashimoto′s disease".The study that accorded with the standard,the data of thyroid autoantibodies,Hashimoto′s thyroiditis and other data were analyzed by Meta in order to find out the best clinical evidence.Results In the meta-analysis of 33 articles,the levels of thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb),antithyroid globulin antibody (TGAb) and thy-rotropin receptor antibody (TRAb) in the patients with Hashimoto′s thyroiditis were significantly higher than those in the healthy control group.The positive rates of TPOAb,TGAb,TRAb and TMAb in the patients with Hashimoto′s thyroiditis group were higher than those in the healthy control group.The difference was statistically significant (P< 0.05).Conclusion Detection of thyroid autoantibodies TPOAb,TGAb,TRAb and TMAb has important clinical value in the diagnosis of Hashimoto′s thyroiditis.
ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate changes of thyroid functions in high-risk pregnant women suffering from gestational diabetes mellitus(GDM).Methods From Feb.2013 to Jun.2014, 80 cases of high-risk preg-nant women suffering from GDM were selected as group A1(high-risk group), 80 cases of GDM pregnant women were selected as group A2(diabetic group), and 80 cases of healthy pregnant women were selected as group A 3 ( the control group ) .Indicators of thyroid function for the three groups were detected and compared .Results The positive rate of TPOAb in group A1 and A2 was significantly higher than that in group A 3, and the difference had statistical significance(P0.05), while FT4 level in group A1 and A2 was both significantly lower than that in group A3, and the difference had statistical significance (P<0.05).Conclusions The probability of thyroid dysfunction in GDM pregnant women and high-risk pregnant women is higher than that in the normal healthy pregnant women . For pregnant women with a family history of diabetes , thyroid functions should be checked comprehensively to prevent thyroid dysfunction .
ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the relationship between vitiligo and thyroid diseases .Methods Chemiluminescence was used to detect serum levels of free triiodothyronine (FT3) ,free thyroxine(FT4) ,thyrotropic stimulating hormone(TSH) ,anti‐thy‐roglobulin antibody(TG‐Ab) and anti‐thyroperoxidase antibody(TPO‐Ab) in 289 vitiligo patients and 128 healthy subjects .All re‐sults were statistically analyzed .Results The abnormal rates of FT3 ,TG‐Ab and TPO‐Ab in vitiligo patients were higher than healthy subjects (P<0 .05) ,which might be correlated with the age and gender of vilitigo patients .Conclusion Levels of thyroid function and autoantibody might be abnormal in vilitigo patients ,which could be more obvious in male and adolescent patients .It could be advantageous to screen thyroid function and antibody levels in patients with vitiligo .
ABSTRACT
Objective To discuss the effect of autoantibodies positive on maternal and infant combined with literature by investigating the positive rate of different gestational thyroid autoantibodies,so as to improve the diagnosis and treatment of diseases.Methods A total of 549 cases of pregnant women were divided into early pregnancy group (178 cases),middle pregnancy group(192 cases),late pregnancy group (179 cases).The level of thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb),thyroglobuhn antibody (TGAb),thyroid stimulating hormone receptor antibody (TRAb),thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) were determined by electrochemiluminescence.And compared with 200 healthy people (control group).Results The positive rate of TPOAb was 18.54％ (33/178),the positive rate of TGAb was 19.66％ (35/178),the positive rate of TRAb was 0.56％ (1/178) in early pregnancy group.The positive rate of TPOAb was 15.62％ (30/192),the positive rate of TGAb was 16.15％ (31/192),the positive rate of TRAb was 0.52％ (1/192) in middle pregnancy group.The positive rate of TPOAb was 16.20％ (29/179),the positive rate of TGAb was 16.76％ (30/179),the positive rate of TRAb was 0.56％ (1/179) in late pregnancy group.The median TPOAb TGAb and the positive rate in early pregnancy group was higher than that in middle pregnancy group,late pregnancy group and control group,the difference was statistically significant (P ＜ 0.01).The median TPOAb,TGAb and the positive rate in middle pregnancy group was higher than that in late pregnancy group and control group,the difference was statistically significant (P ＜ 0.01).Conclusion More attention should be paid to gestational thyroid autoantibodies incidence,take the necessary intervention should be of high risk pregnant women.
ABSTRACT
Objective To observe the effect of the Chinese medicine on the patients’ thyroid autoantibodies TPOAb and TGAb of Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Methods 100 cases of Hashimoto's thyroiditis were randomly divided into group A and group B, with 50 cases in each group. Group A was given levothyroxine sodium(L-T4) to maintain thyroid function(FT3,FT4,TSH)in the normal range, at the same time Chinese medicines of soothing liver and strengthening spleen, nourishing the liver and kidney, activating blood and removing blood stasis were additionally added;while group B was taken L-T4 to maintain the thyroid function in the normal range. The levels of TPOAb, TGAb were determined before and after treatment in both groups. Results After the treatment, the level of TGAb and TPOAb[respectively(106.3±29.5)IU/ml,(871.5± 209.3)IU/ml] in group A were decreased compared with their previous level [respectively(385.5±76.6)IU/ml, (1621.5±399.2)IU/ml], the difference was statistically significant(t were 48.2、10.6,P<0.01). The level of TGAb and TPOAb [respectively(437.6±135.4)IU/ml,(1798.6±434.6)IU/ml] in group B were slightly increase than their previous level[respectively(383.9±105.8)IU/ml,(1633.2±396.5)IU/ml], with no significant difference. The levels of TPOAb and TGAb in group A had significant difference than those in group B after the treatment(t were 22.3、19.6,P<0.01). Conclusion TCM combined with L-T4 can reduce the level of thyroid autoantibodies of TPOAb and TGAb-in patients.
ABSTRACT
Electrochemiluminescence was used to determine thyroid function and thyroid autoantibodies in 140 pregnant women,who were then divided into normal group (n =117) and subclinical hypothyroidism group (n =23) based on the thyroid function.The urine iodine level in the pregnant women was detected by arsenic cerium catalytic spectrophotometric method.The awareness of past history of thyroid disease among the subjects with thyroid dysfunctions were investigated.The results showed that the prevalences of iodine deficiency were 50％ and 57％ in the normal group and the subclinical hypothyroidism group,respectively.The state of iodine level was not related to thyroid function.The levels of serum thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb) and thyroglobulin antibody were markedly related to serum TSH(P＜0.01),so was the level of serum TPOAb related to serum FT4 (P＜0.05).Among the subclinical hypothyroidism women,70％ did not undergo thyroid function and thyroid autoantibodies screening before pregnancy,8.7％ denied past history of thyroid disease,and 21.7％ suffered from hypothyroidism before pregnancy.Therefore,we advocate the screening of urine iodine and thyroid autoantibodies before or during the first trimester of pregnancy,aiming to correct iodine deficiency,avoid supplementing too much iodine,improve the outcome of perinatal stage,and reduce all the negative effects on the offsprings.
ABSTRACT
Objective To evaluate the relationship between thyroid autoantibodies (ATA)and pregnancy outcome of infertility women after assisted reproductive technology (ART). Methods Relevant studies were identified by searching PubMed, Cochrane library, CNKI and CBM. Results 7 studies were appropriate for meta-analyses and total 4165 patiens were included. Meta analysis shows that the pregnancy rate difference between ATA positive patients and controls have no significance, but the miscarriage rate is greater significant between them. In the meta-analyses, the presence of thyroid antibodies was associated with an increased risk of miscarriage (OR 1.85, 95%CI 1.32~2.59), compared with the absence of thyroid antibodies. Conclusion Pregnant women with thyroid antibodies have an increased risk of complications, especially miscarriage. Future research,should focus on the treatment and thyroid disease on pregnancy outcome.
ABSTRACT
To explore the relationship between thyroid autoantibodies and thyroid function in school children aged 8-10 years,adults,pregnant women,and lactating women in China,in order to provide reference for the prevention and monitoring of thyroid disease.Healthy 8-10 years old school children (693 cases),adults (698 cases),pregnant women(325 cases),and lactating women(332 cases) from six iodine sufficient areas were enrolled.Serum TSH,FT4,and FT3 were determined by chemiluminescent immunoassay,while antithyroid antibody by radioimmunoassay.The positive rate of thyroid autoantibodies in females was significantly higher than that in the male (5.6％ vs 2.0％ in school children,and 22.8％ vs 3.2％ in adults) ; while positive rate of autoantibodies in pregnant and lactating women (8.9％,8.7％) were significantly lower than that in the other healthy adult women (22.8％).The incidence of abnormal thyroid function in antibody-positive people was higher than that in negative ones in all groups,and abnormal thyroid function showed mainly as subclinical hypothyroidism.In addition,lactating women with negative autoantibodies presented a higher incidence of abnormal thyroid function,mainly as low FT4.The abnormal thyroid function is related with the positive thyroid autoantibodies,indicating that it is essential to follow-up these people with positive antibodies in order to facilitate prevention,early diagnosis,and treatment of thyroid disease.Reference data for thyroid hormones in lactating women should be establisbed as soon as possible.
ABSTRACT
Totally 1 360 pregnant women during the first trimesters (4-12 weeks) who visited Ningbo University Affiliated Hospital and Ningbo Jiangbei Maternal Health Hospital from February 2010 to October 2011,and 216 non-pregnant healthy women,who contemporaneous by visited the hospital,were enrolled in this study.The thyroid screening was made by determining urinary iodine and serum free thyroxine,free triiodothyronine,total thyroxine,total triiodothyronine,thyrotropin,and thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb).The median concentration of urinary iodine in the pregnant women was not different from that of non-pregnant women (P＞0.05) ; 1 360 pregnant women were screened,268 (19.71％) of them were identified to suffer from thyroid disorders or with positive thyroid autoantibody.29(13.43％) of non-pregnant women were identified to suffer from thyroid disorders or with positive thyroid autoantibody.There was significant difference between the 2 groups (x2 =4.40,P＜0.05).Prevalence of thyroid dysfunction may increase during early pregnancy.The screening for thyroid function and autoantibody should be recommended in that period.
ABSTRACT
The most common clinical manifestations of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) are goiter and hypothyroidism. The biochemical thyroid function varies quite widely among patients. Anti-TPO antibodies (TPOAbs) are the most sensitive index to screen HT. The thyroid function deteriorates gradually, and the hypothyroidism is the permanent sequeala of HT. The natural history of HT in children and adolescents is not fully known, and monitoring of thyroid function for all patients should be long-term. Children with hypothyroidism should be treated with levothyroxine replacement therapy.
ABSTRACT
Thyroid autoantibodies (TAA) in euthyroid women were associated with several adverse pregnancy outcomes,such as miscarriage,preterm birth.Maternal TAA frequently results in transient mild elevation of serum TSH above the normal reference value in women during pregnancy and in infants born in the first month of life,and may affect neuropsychological development of their offspring.The cause is still unclear.Medical interventions on TAA involve levothyroxine or selenium supplementation. The article reviews the effects of maternal thyroid autoantibodies on pregnancy outcomes,as well as on neonatal thyroid status,and neuropsychological development of the fetus and neonate,and summarizes therapeutic strategies used to intervene maternal thyroid autoimmunity.
ABSTRACT
ObjectiveTo investigate the cumulative incidence of persistent hypothyroidism in patients who were diagnosed as postpartum thyroiditis ( PPT),and to determine the factors associated with the development of persistent hypothyroidism in those patients.MethodsThe present study was performed as the continuous study followed by the former epidemiological survey on PPT,in which 58 patients with PPT (35 overt PPT and 23 subclinical PPT) were diagnosed.The 58 patients were followed up at 12th month postpartum,and then for every 6 months until 24 months postpartum.Fasting blood samples were taken for testing serum TSH,thyroid peroxidase antibody ( TPOAb),and thyroglobulin antibody ( TgAb ).Free T3 ( FT3 ),free T4 ( FT4 ),and TSH receptor antibody ( TRAh ) were detected if TSH was abnormal.50 healthy postpartum women were used as control group.ResultsOf the total 58 PPT patients,91,4％ ( n =53 ) were successfully followed.Five patients with overt PPT and 6 patients with subclinical PPT developed persistent hypothyroidism,and the cumulative incidence of persistent hypothyroidism in the studied PPT patients was 20.8％.Among 15 PPT patients who had a classical biphasic course (a thyrotoxic phase followed by a hypothyroid phase),persistent hypothyroidism was seen in 26.7％ (n =4 ).Among 11 PPT patients with hypothyroidism only,persistent hypothyroidism was seen in 63.6％ ( n =7).On the contrary,none of the patients with thyrotoxicosis only had persistent hypothyroidism.All of the patients who developed persistent hypothyrodism had a higher TSH levels than 4.8 mU/L at 6th month postpartum.Before delivery,TSH levels of the patients developed persistent hypothyroidism were significantly higher than those of the patients with transient hypothyroidism,and this was the case at the 12th month postpartum ( all P＜0.01 ).PPT patients maintained a relatively higher rate of thyroid autoantibodies.The positive rate of TPOAb at the 12th,18th,and 24th month postpartum was 56.6％,50.9％,and 52.8％,respectively; and the positive rate of TgAb being 35.8％,30.2％,and 30.2％,respectively.Both the positive rate and titer of TPOAb in patients with overt PPT were higher than those in patients with subclinical PPT at the 18th and 24th month postpartum (P＜0.05).Conclusions 20.8％ patients with PPT developed persistent hypothyroidism at the 24th month postpartum.Whether a patient with PPT would develop persistent hypothyroidism depends on his clinical feature and TSH level.
ABSTRACT
Objective To study the levothyroxine doses and related factors in the treatment of pregnant women with subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH).Methods Fifty-six pregnant women with SCH (diagnosed before 12 weeks of gestation) were recruited and divided into 2 groups according to the baseline TSH levels,SCH group 1 (2.5 mIU/L ≤ TSH ≤ 5.0 mIU/L,n =24) and SCH group 2 (TSH＞5.0 mIU/L,n =32).Thyroid autoantibodies [thyroid peroxidase antibody(TPOAb) and thyroglobulin antibody(TGAb)] were detected.All the subjects were treated with levothyroxine and the doses were adjusted according to the TSH level.The therapeutic target was to keep the TSH levels under control,0.3 to 2.5 mIU/L for the first trimester and 0.3 to 3.0 mIU/L for the second and third trimesters.Results There was a positive correlation between the levothyroxine doses and baseline TSH levels (r =0.533,P＜0.01) in pregnant women with SCH.A significant difference in the levothyroxine doses between SCH group 1 and SCH group 2 was found [(0.583 ± 0.341) vs (0.961 ± 0.405) μg/kg,t =-3.695,P＜ 0.01].The levothyroxine doses in SCH group 2 were 64.84％ higher than those in group 1.There was a significant difference in the levothyroxine doses between thyroid autoantibody negative and positive subjects [(0.680 ± 0.370) vs (0.918 ±0.440) μg/kg,t =-2.197,P =0.032].The levothyroxine doses in thyroid autoantibody positive subjects were 35 ％ higher than those in the negative subjects.In addition,there was a significant difference in the levothyroxine doses between subjects with negative and positive thyroid autoantibody [(0.421 ± 0.192) vs (0.720 ± 0.385)μg/kg,t =-2.331,P =0.029] in SCH group 1.While in SCH group 2,the difference did not reach statistical significance.Conclusion The baseline TSH levels and status of thyroid autoantibodies may affect the levothyroxine dosage in pregnant women with SCH.
ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the prevalence of thyroid disorders and positive thyroid autoantibodies,and evaluate the necessity for universal thyroid screening during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy.Methods The pregnant women during the second and third trimesters who visited Shanghai Jiaotong University Affiliated First People's Hospital between June 2006 and February 2008 were chosen for thyroid screening by determining serum free triiodothyronine,free thyroxine,thyrotropin,thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb),and thyrotropin receptor antibody.A personal and family history of thyroid disease and other autoimmune diseases was investigated by questionnaire.The pregnant women were divided into high risk or low risk groups for thyroid disease based on their personal or family histories.Results A total of 2 101 pregnant women were screened,712 ( 33.89％ ) of them were identified to suffer from thyroid disorders or with positive thyroid autoantibody.The prevalence of thyroid dysfunction was increased in high risk group.While in low risk group( n =1 983 ),the prevalence of clinical hypothyroidism was 2.27％ ( n =45 ),subclinical hypothyroidism 11.60％ ( n =230 ),clinical hyperthyroidism 0.20％ ( n =4 ),subclinical hyperthyroidism 1.06％ ( n =21 ),hypothyroxinemia 6.45％ ( n =128 ),and euthyroid with positive TPOAb 10.74％ ( n =213 ) in our study.Pregnant women with positive TPOAb were susceptible to thyroid dysfunction.It was shown that 79.74％ of pregnant women with thyroid disorders were diagnosed by universal thyroid screening.Conclusions 33.89％ of pregnant women in the second and third trimesters were identified to suffer from thyroid disorders or positive thyroid autoantibody by universal thyroid screening.Increased prevalence of thyroid dysfunction was found in pregnant women with positive TPOAb.79.74％ of pregnant women with thyroid disorders might be missed if screening was made only in the high risk cases.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Iron deficiency is known as an aetiological factor in diffuse alopecia and androgen-dependent alopecia, especially in females. In alopecia areata, a few studies have been performed to evaluate the role of iron deficiency, but the results were not conclusive. Alopecia areata is suspected to be an autoimmune disease and increased frequencies of thyroid disease, vitiligo, and autoantibodies have been demonstrated. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to assess the role of iron deficiency in alopecia areata and to study the frequency of abnormal thyroid function tests and autoantibodies in Korean patients with alopecia areata. METHOD: A total of 40 (32 premenopausal and 8 postmenopausal) female and 33 male patients with patchy alopecia areata were included. Hematologic tests, thyroid function tests and autoantibody tests were performed. RESULTS: About 65% of premenopausal female patients with alopecia areata had low level of serum ferritin below 20 ng/ml. This percentage was increased to 87% with low limit of 40 ng/ml, and to 100% with low limit of 70 ng/ml in premenopausal women, but all postmenopausal patients showed normal ferritin level. About one-fifth of premenopausal female patients had low serum iron level and one-tenth had low hemoglobin level. Serum ferritin level was significantly lower in premenopausal women (21.5+/-12.4 ng/ml) than in postmenopausal women (71.1+/-47.1 ng/ml) (p<0.05). Hematologic test abnormalities were very infrequent in male patients with alopecia areata. Thyroid function tests were normal in most of the patients. Frequency of antinuclear antibody was 30% in female patients with alopecia areata, which was higher than 9% in male patients. Frequencies of antimicrosomal and antithyroglobulin antibodies were rather low and they were similar in female and male patients. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest possible role of ferritin deficiency in premenopausal female patients with alopecia areata. Abnormalities in thyroid function tests or autoantibodies were not a major problem in alopecia areata patients.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Male , Alopecia Areata , Alopecia , Antibodies , Antibodies, Antinuclear , Autoantibodies , Autoimmune Diseases , Ferritins , Hematologic Tests , Iron , Thyroid Diseases , Thyroid Function Tests , Thyroid Gland , VitiligoABSTRACT
Objective To analyze the relationship between serum Th1/Th2 cytokines levels and autoantibodies against thyroid, and explore the role of Th1/Th2 cellular immunity imbalance in the pathogenesis of autoimmune thyroid diseases(AITD). Methods 21 patients with Graves'desease(GD), 18 cases with Hashimoto's thyroiditis(HT), 17 cases with non-toxic nodular goiter(NTNG) and 20 healthy subjects were enrolled in this study. The serum concentrations of their Th1 cytokines (IFN-?,IL-2) and Th2 cytokines (IL-4,IL-10) were assayed by ELISA. The serum levels of their thyrotropin receptor antibodies(TRAb), thyroglobulin antibodies (TGAb) and thyroid peroxidase antibodies(TPOAb) were measured by routine methods. The relationship between the serum Th1, Th2 cytokines levels and serum TRAb, TGAb, TPOAb levels were analyzed. Results The serum levels of IL-4 and IL-10 in patients with GD were significantly higher than those in patients with HT,NTNG and healthy subjects(P
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To define the prevalence of thyroid dysfunction and autoantibodies in rheumatoid arthritis(RA). A prospective controlled study was conducted on 62 RA patients and 55 controls with non-inflammatory rheumatic diseases (3 osteoarthritis, 6 fibromyalgia, 4 carpal tunnel syndrome and 42 patients with nonspecific joint pain). All subjects were tested for T3, T4, TSH, FT4, RAIU, rheumatoid factor and ANA. Anti-thyroglobulin (TG) Ab and anti-microsomal (Mic) Ab were assayed using a more sensitive direct assay of RIA and TSH-R Ab (TRAb) using competitive radioimmunoassay. Thyroid dysfunction was observed in 10 RA patients (16.2%) of which 6 patients had hypothyroidism and 4 patients hyperthyroidism, and was significantly more prevalent in RA (p=0.026). Anti-Mic Ab was significantly more prevalent in RA patients. The frequencies of anti-Mic Ab and anti-TG Ab in RA patients were 69.4% and 58.1% (cut-off value was 0.3U/ml), but were 16.1% and 12.9% when those over 10U/ml were calculated. Thyroid dysfunction was not present when either of anti-TG Ab or anti-Mic Ab was below 0.3U/ml. The prevalence of thyroid dysfunction or autoantibodies were not different according to the presence of RF or ANA. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of thyroid dysfunction and autoantibodies were significantly increased in RA patients and the variance of the latter in other reports might be explained at least partially by difference in cut-off values of different methods. Thyroid dysfunction may not develop when either of anti-Mic Ab or anti-TG Ab is below 0.3 U/ml in RA.
Subject(s)
Humans , Arthritis, Rheumatoid , Autoantibodies , Carpal Tunnel Syndrome , Fibromyalgia , Hyperthyroidism , Hypothyroidism , Joints , Osteoarthritis , Prevalence , Prospective Studies , Radioimmunoassay , Rheumatic Diseases , Rheumatoid Factor , Thyroid GlandABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Autoimmune thyroid diseases have been shown to occur in association with connective tissue disorders. This study was undertaken to elucidate the prevalence of thyroid autoantibodies and thyroid dysfunction in Korean patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: We have compared the prevalence of thyroid autoantibodies in 108 RA patients with 81 age-matched controls. Antimicrosomal antibody (AMA) and antithyroglobulin antibody (ATA) were measured by passive hemagglutinin assay. T3, T4, Free T4, and TSH were measured by chemiluminescence method. Rheumatoid factor was measured by nephelometry. Statistical analysis was performed by chi-square, Fisher's exact test, and Pearson correlation test. RESULTS: 1) The presence of AMA/ATA in patients with RA was significantly higher (28.7%/26.7% in 108 patients) than that of controls (11.1%/9.9% in 81 controls). The positive rates of AMA/ATA in female patients were also higher (28.9%/28.9% in 97 patients) than those of female controls (15.5%/12.1% in 58 controls). 2) Thirty three (17.6%) of 187 patients with RA had the abnormalities of thyroid function; 14 (7.5%) revealed subclinical hypothyroidism, 5 (2.7%) revealed biochemical primary hypothyroidism, 7 (3.7%) revealed sick euthyroid syndrome, and 7 (3.7%) revealed hyperthyroidism. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that autoimmune thyroiditis is highly associated with RA in Korean patients, showing the increased prevalence of thyroid autoantibodies and thyroid dysfunctions.