Analysis of thyroid functional abnormalities in primary Sj(o)gren's syndrome

Abstract

Objective To explore the clinical characteristics of thyroid disease in patients with primary Sj(o)gren's syndrome (pSS).Methods A total of 81 pSS patients were retrospectively investigated for thyroid dysfunction and the presence of anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb),antithyroglobulin antibody (TGAb).Sex,age,erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR),C-reactive protein (CRP),white blood cell count,and serum immunoglobulins were also analyzed.Results Thirty-one patients were identified as having thyroid dysfunction,including 3 with hyperthyroidism,18 with hypothyroidism,and 10 with subclinical hypothyroidism.There were no significant differences in the incidences of some clinical manifestations between patients with or without thyroid dysfunction,such as dry mouth,dry eyes,joint pain,Raynaud's phenomenon,palpable purpura,peripheral neuropathy,interstitial lung disease,liver involvement,and renal tubular acidosis.Differences were not statistically significant for ESR and CRP between two groups.Also,the titers of anti-nuclear antibody,anti-SSA antibody,antiSSB antibodies,and rheumatoid factor between two groups showed no significant differences.However,white blood cell count [(5.65 ± 0.49 vs 7.22 ± 0.48) × 109/L,P＜0.05] and hematoglobin [(110.50 ± 3.64 vs 122.80 ± 3.02) g/L,P＜0.05],as well as the titers of TGAb [(587.30 ± 204.30 vs 58.76 ± 13.78) U/ml,P＜0.05] and TPOAb [(213.70 ± 39.64 vs 29.57 ± 8.49) IU/ml,P ＜ 0.05] were significantly different between the two groups.Conclusions Thyroid diseases are frequently associated with pSS.Therefore,extended screening for existing thyroid diseases during the routine assessment of pSS patients is recommended. Key words: Primary Sj(o)gren syndrome; Thyroid disease