Autoimmune thyroid disorders in SLE in Singapore

One hundred and twenty-nine patients with systemic lupus erythematosus were screened for thyroid function tests. Of these, 8.9% had hyperthyroidism and 3.9% Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Euthyroid sick syndrome was present in 47.8% of patients. There was a high prevalence of antimicrosomal and antithyroglobulin antibodies (32.2%). Aberrations in thyroid function tests are common in SLE but the incidence of thyroid failure is low.