title: [Clinical analysis and immunological characteristics of patients with dermatomyositis and thyroid dysfunction].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the clinical and immunological features of dermatomyositis (DM) complicated with thyroid dysfunction.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 1993 and 2008, dermatomyositis was diagnosed in 70 patients referred to the Department of Rheumatology of Peking University People's Hospital. Clinical and laboratory data including antibodies, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), immunoglobulin, protein electrophoresis, and serum lipid levels, etc. were retrospectively analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  48% of DM patients had their thyroid function impaired, most of whom suffered from subclinical hypothyroidism. DM patients with thyroid dysfunction were more likely to have higher levels of CRP and IgG as well as higher incidences of fever and erythra.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Subclinical thyroid dysfunction with DM is not rare. Common immunological background may be responsible for this phenomenon and it should not be neglected.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing 100044, China.
authors.forename: Hai-hong
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: Yu-hui
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xue-wu
authors.initials: XW
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Zhan-guo
authors.initials: ZG
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D003882:Dermatomyositis / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D002097:C-Reactive Protein