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Association Between Autoimmune Thyroiditis and Cervical Artery Dissection: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Robert J Trager1,2,3, Pratheek S Makineni4, Debbie S Wright5,6
1Connor Whole Health University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center Cleveland Ohio USA.
Insights
Autoimmune thyroiditis (AT) is linked to a higher risk of cervical artery dissection (CeAD). This study found AT patients had a 58% increased risk of CeAD within three years, highlighting a significant association.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Neurology
- Vascular Medicine
Background:
- Limited evidence suggests a potential link between autoimmune thyroiditis (AT) and cervical artery dissection (CeAD).
- Further investigation is needed to confirm AT as a risk factor for CeAD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test the hypothesis that AT is associated with an increased risk of CeAD.
- To compare the incidence of CeAD in patients with AT versus matched euthyroid controls within three years of diagnosis.
Main Methods:
- A de-identified US claims database (TriNetX) was used to identify adult patients with newly diagnosed AT and matched euthyroid controls from 2014-2024.
- Propensity score matching controlled for CeAD-associated variables.
- The primary outcome was the risk ratio (RR) for CeAD within three years, with secondary outcomes including vertebral/carotid artery dissection and stroke.
Main Results:
- The AT cohort (143,831 patients) showed a significantly greater incidence and risk of CeAD compared to controls (0.040% vs. 0.025%; RR=1.58; p=0.029).
- A significant increase in carotid artery dissection (RR=2.33; p=0.011) and stroke (RR=1.67; p<0.001) was observed in the AT group.
- The cumulative incidence of CeAD demonstrated a time-dependent increase in AT patients relative to controls.
Conclusions:
- Autoimmune thyroiditis is identified as a risk factor for cervical artery dissection.
- Further research is warranted to explore mediating factors such as medications, hormone levels, and antibody status in the AT-CeAD association.
Background And Aims:
Limited evidence suggests autoimmune thyroiditis (AT) could represent a risk factor for cervical artery dissection (CeAD). We tested the hypothesis of a positive association between AT and CeAD within 3 years following diagnosis compared to matched euthyroid controls.
Methods:
We searched a de-identified United States' data resource (TriNetX LLC) for adults age ≥ 18 with newly-diagnosed AT, and euthyroid controls, from 2014 to 2024. Propensity matching controlled for variables associated with CeAD. Our primary outcome was the risk ratio (RR) for CeAD within 3 years' follow-up. Secondary outcomes explored the cumulative incidence of CeAD and RRs for vertebral and carotid artery dissection and stroke.
Results:
After matching, there were 143,831 patients per cohort (80% female). Comparing the AT cohort to matched euthyroid controls, the incidence and risk of CeAD was significantly greater [95% CI] (0.040% vs. 0.025%; RR = 1.58 [1.04, 2.40]; p = 0.029). Secondary outcomes included a non-significant increase in incidence and risk of vertebral artery dissection (0.022% vs. 0.017%; RR = 1.28 [0.76, 2.16]; p = 0.354), and significant increase in incidence and risk of carotid artery dissection (0.019% vs. 0.008%; RR = 2.33 [1.19, 4.59]; p = 0.011) and stroke (2.1% vs. 1.3%; RR = 1.67 [1.58, 1.77]; p < 0.001). Cumulative incidence of CeAD in patients with AT highlighted a time-dependent increase relative to euthyroid controls.
Conclusion:
The present findings suggest that AT is a risk factor for CeAD. Additional research is needed to corroborate these findings and clarify factors that may mediate the AT-CeAD association, such as medications, thyroid hormones, and antibody levels.
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