The causal association between thyroid disease and gout: A Mendelian randomization study.

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology and Metabolism
• Rheumatology
• Genetic Epidemiology

Background:

• Observational studies suggest a link between thyroid disease and gout.
• The causal relationship between thyroid disorders and gout remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the causal association between specific thyroid diseases and gout using Mendelian randomization.
• To determine if autoimmune hypothyroidism, autoimmune hyperthyroidism, thyroid nodules, or thyroid cancer causally influence gout risk.

Main Methods:

• Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis utilizing Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) data.
• Investigated autoimmune hypothyroidism, autoimmune hyperthyroidism, thyroid nodules, and thyroid cancer as exposures and gout as the outcome.
• Employed inverse variance weighting (IVW), MR-Egger, weighted median, and weighted mode methods, with sensitivity analyses for heterogeneity and pleiotropy.

Main Results:

• Autoimmune hypothyroidism showed a causal effect on gout (OR=1.13, 95% CI=1.03-1.21).
• Autoimmune hyperthyroidism demonstrated a causal effect on gout (OR=1.07, 95% CI=1.01-1.12).
• No significant causal effects were found for thyroid nodules or thyroid cancer on gout. Reverse MR analysis indicated no causal effect of gout on these thyroid conditions.

Conclusions:

• Autoimmune hypothyroidism and autoimmune hyperthyroidism are causally associated with an increased risk of gout.
• These findings clarify the etiological relationship between specific thyroid diseases and gout, informing clinical management and prevention strategies.