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[Autoimmune thyroid diseases and Horton disease]
E Vidal1, F Liozon, J F Berdah
1Service de Médecine Interne, CHU, Limoges.
Insights
Giant cell arteritis patients show no increased risk of thyroid autoimmune diseases. A study found similar rates of Grave
Area of Science:
- Rheumatology
- Endocrinology
- Immunology
Context:
- Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is a systemic vasculitis primarily affecting large and medium arteries.
- Autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITDs) are common endocrine disorders with a significant autoimmune component.
- The potential association between GCA and AITDs requires further investigation.
Purpose:
- To investigate the prevalence of clinically patent autoimmune diseases, specifically thyroid disorders, in patients diagnosed with giant cell arteritis.
- To assess the frequency of biological hypothyroidism and anti-thyroid antibodies (ATAb) in GCA patients.
- To compare these frequencies with a matched control group.
Summary:
- A retrospective study analyzed 115 giant cell arteritis patients, identifying 5 cases of autoimmune diseases, including Grave's disease and hypothyroidism.
- Thyroid hormone assays and anti-thyroid antibody investigations in a subset of GCA patients revealed biological hypothyroidism in 6.5% and ATAb in 10.3%.
- These findings were not statistically different when compared to a control group of 39 age- and sex-matched individuals.
Impact:
- This study suggests that giant cell arteritis patients do not have a higher predisposition to developing autoimmune thyroid diseases.
- The findings contribute to understanding the comorbidity profile of GCA.
- Further research may explore shared etiological factors or the impact of GCA treatment on thyroid function.
Abstract:
In a retrospective study of 115 patients with giant cell arteritis, 5 clinically patent autoimmune diseases were recorded; including 2 patients (1.8%) with Grave's disease and 1 with hypothyroidism. Among these patients, 46 had systematic assays of blood thyroid hormones and 39 were systematically investigated for anti-thyroid antibodies (ATAb):3 (6.5%) had biological hypothyroidism and 4 (10.3%) had ATAb. These findings were not significantly different from those of a control group of 39 age and sex matched patients.