A cross-sectional study to know the prevalence of thyroid dysfunction in systemic lupus erythematosus

Abstract

Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a persistent autoimmune disease, the pathogenesis of which remains elusive. Autoimmune factors may be a cause of SLE and thyroid dysfunction. Many studies have revealed that the prevalence of thyroid disorder is higher in SLE patients than in the general population. SLE is a multisystem and hypothyroidism is an organ specific autoimmune disorder and can occur successively or simultaneously. Aims and Objectives: The aim of the study was to study the prevalence of thyroid disorder in patients with SLE. Materials and Methods: Patients admitted with definite clinical features of SLE and Antinuclear Antibodies positive, in medicine ward and healthy blood donors are taken as control. Sample was tested by fully automated analyzer. Results: Subclinical hypothyroidism was found in 24% of study group and 8% of control group which is statistically significant. Central and secondary hyperthyroidism was found in 10% of study group and 12% of control group but it was statistically insignificant. Several studies have documented an association between SLE and other autoimmune diseases such as Sjogren’s syndrome, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, and antiphospholipid syndrome. Subclinical hypothyroidism was higher than another thyroid dysfunction such as primary, central, and subclinical hypothyroidism was found to be higher in frequency, probably depicting the slow destructive process which is pathognomic of autoimmune thyroiditis. Conclusion: Subclinical hypothyroidism was more prevalent in SLE than that of overt hypothyroidism as compared with general population.