Thyroid function and serum prolactin levels in patients with juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate both thyroid function and serum prolactin levels in patients with juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus (JSLE) and to detect possible correlation with disease activity.


METHODS
Forty-two JSLE patients (3-15 years old at disease onset), twenty-two pubertal. All patients were evaluated according their clinical manifestations and disease activity. We determined serum prolactin, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), T4, free T4, T3, thyroid peroxidasis and thyreoglobulin antibodies in all patients and controls. Thyroid ultrasonography was performed in the patients.


RESULTS
We did not observe any difference in thyroid hormone and prolactin levels between patients and controls. One patient with JSLE presented with hyperthyroidism and six had thyroid antibodies. We observed abnormalities by ultrasonography in four patients (9.3%), specially heterogeneity of the gland echotexture. We did not find any correlation between prolactin levels, clinical manifestations or disease activity.


CONCLUSIONS
Evaluation of thyroid function should not be routine for JSLE patients. Thyroid hormones and prolactin should be measured only in patients with clinical manifestations of hypo- or hyperthyroidism.
Ronchezel
M V
MV
Department of Pediatrics, Sao Paulo Federal University, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Brazil.
Len
C A
CA
Spinola e Castro
A
A
Sacchetti
S
S
Lourenzi
V M
VM
Ajzen
S
S
Tufik
S
S
Hilário
M O
MO
D000293:Adolescent; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006980:Hyperthyroidism / Q000209:etiology; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood*; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014463:Ultrasonography
D001323:Autoantibodies; D011388:Prolactin