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Thyroid gland disorders in primary Sjögren's syndrome
L Punzi1, P A Ostuni, C Betterle
1Department of Rheumatology, Padua University, Italy.
Revue Du Rhumatisme (English Ed.)
|December 1, 1996
Summary
Thyroid disorders are more frequent in primary Sjögren's syndrome patients compared to rheumatoid arthritis and healthy controls. These patients also showed fewer autoantibodies and less severe histologic lesions.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Rheumatology
- Immunology
Background:
- Primary Sjögren's syndrome is an autoimmune disease affecting exocrine glands.
- Thyroid dysfunction is a known comorbidity in autoimmune conditions.
- The prevalence of thyroid disorders in primary Sjögren's syndrome requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the frequency of thyroid disorders in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome.
- To compare the incidence of thyroid disorders in primary Sjögren's syndrome with rheumatoid arthritis and control groups.
Main Methods:
- 121 patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome and 74 with rheumatoid arthritis underwent thyroid hormone assays and antibody testing.
- Antimicrosomal and antithyroglobulin antibodies were also tested in 404 controls.
- Statistical analysis was performed on collected data.
Main Results:
- Primary Sjögren's syndrome patients had a higher likelihood of antimicrosomal antibodies (17.6%) compared to controls (9%).
- Both primary Sjögren's syndrome (13.4%) and rheumatoid arthritis (3.1%) patients showed increased antithyroglobulin antibodies compared to controls (1%).
- Hypothyroidism was significantly more common in primary Sjögren's syndrome patients (13.4%) than in rheumatoid arthritis patients (3.1%).
Conclusions:
- Thyroid disorders are indeed more prevalent in primary Sjögren's syndrome.
- Patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome and thyroid disorders exhibited reduced autoantibody production and less severe histologic findings.