Commonalities between thyroid disease and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is characterized by multiple organ involvements. One notable manifestation of SLE is thyroid disease, which has been documented in various studies with significant variability in prevalence and presentation. Observational studies have indicated that thyroid dysfunction, particularly autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) characterized by hypothyroidism, is commonly associated with SLE. Despite these observation, the exact relationship between SLE and thyroid disease still remain poorly understood. Several factors may contribute to the pathogenesis of SLE companied with AITD, including genetic susceptibility, environmental influences, pharmacological agents, infections and immune system dysregulation. In light of these considerations, we conducted a review of the literature to observe the associations and potential mechanisms linking thyroid disease to SLE. This review aims to shed light on the complexities of these interrelated conditions and provide insights into their co-occurrence.