title: Hashimoto's thyroiditis is a frequent occurrence in patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Kecioren Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Derun T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Ertugrul
authors.forename: Bunyamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yavuz
authors.forename: Ahmet A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Yalcin
authors.forename: Metin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kucukazman
authors.forename: Naim
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ata
authors.forename: Ezgi C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Yenigun
authors.forename: Zekeriya
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ulger
authors.forename: Guler
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kizilca
authors.forename: Kadir O
authors.initials: KO
authors.lastname: Akin
authors.forename: Yasar
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nazligul
mesh_terms: 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