Hashimoto's thyroiditis is a frequent occurrence in patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis.
OBJECTIVE
Rheumatic mitral stenosis (RMS), an autoimmune sequel of streptococcal infection, causes significant morbidity and mortality. As Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) is recognized as the major form of chronic autoimmune thyroiditis, it was hypothesized that the coexistence of HT and RMS might have an autoimmune origin. The study aim was to examine this possible relationship.


METHODS
A total of 55 consecutive patients with RMS was examined and compared to 54 healthy controls with normal echocardiographic findings. All subjects underwent transthoracic echocardiography and thyroid ultrasonography after a complete medical history and laboratory examination.


RESULTS
The demographic data of the RMS group (38 females, 17 males; mean age 39.9 +/- 9.3 years) and control group (39 females, 15 males; mean age 39.6 +/- 10.5 years) were similar. HT was found to occur significantly more frequently in RMS patients (n = 16; 29%) than in controls (n = 6; 11%) (p = 0.019)


CONCLUSIONS
The higher frequency of HT in patients with RMS than controls may have genetic associations. Hence, further genetic-based studies should be conducted to provide a better understanding of this suggested relationship.
Ertugrul
Derun T
DT
Department of Internal Medicine, Kecioren Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
Yavuz
Bunyamin
B
Yalcin
Ahmet A
AA
Kucukazman
Metin
M
Ata
Naim
N
Yenigun
Ezgi C
EC
Ulger
Zekeriya
Z
Kizilca
Guler
G
Akin
Kadir O
KO
Nazligul
Yasar
Y
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D050031:Hashimoto Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008946:Mitral Valve Stenosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012214:Rheumatic Heart Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014463:Ultrasonography