Thyroid dysfunction and rheumatic diseases.
Musculoskeletal symptoms developing during the treatment of thyroid disease were studied in 150 patients; 17 developed a symptom complex of early morning stiffness together with shoulder girdle pain and weakness; similar symptoms were seen in only 3 of 100 controls. A prospective study of 16 patients with recent onset rheumatoid arthritis followed during the first 6 months of penicillamine therapy showed no changes in thyroid function tests. It is suggested that changing or abnormal thyroid status may precipitate or exacerbate musculoskeletal disease. Finally, in a retrospective study of 26 patients with both thyroid disease and rheumatoid arthritis, 4 patients had a simultaneous onset of both myxoedema and rheumatoid arthritis, the activity of which was greatly improved by correction of the hypothyroid state.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D013960:Thyroid Function Tests; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000503:physiopathology