title: Rheumatic manifestations of euthyroid, anti-thyroid antibody-positive patients.
abstract: The aim of this study is to define the rheumatic manifestations of euthyroid patients with chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis (CLT) but without a well-defined connective tissue disease. Forty-six consecutive patients with anti-thyroid peroxidase (αTPO) and/or anti-thyroglobulin antibodies (αTG), and normal thyroid function in the absence of a well-defined connective tissue disease were included in a case-cohort study. Arthralgias were a presenting complaint in 98 % of patients. Fibromyalgia syndrome was found in 59 % of patients. Raynaud's phenomenon occurred in 28 % and sicca symptoms in 26 % of patients. Two patients had seronegative arthritis resembling rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis was radiographically present in 88 %, affecting the spine in 45 % of patients. Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels positively correlated with levels of αTPO, but not with erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) or αTG levels. A positive ANA was found in 24 % of patients. One patient developed subclinical hypothyroidism during the study. Rheumatic manifestations frequently occur in patients with CLT in the absence of overt thyroid dysfunction and mimic the presentation of the well-defined connective tissue diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA. ctagoe@aol.com
authors.forename: Clement E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Tagoe
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zezon
authors.forename: Saakshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khattri
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Castellanos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D003240:Connective Tissue Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D050031:Hashimoto Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007453:Iodide Peroxidase / Q000276:immunology*; D033862:Iron-Binding Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D013960:Thyroid Function Tests; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D001324:Autoantigens; D015415:Biomarkers; D033862:Iron-Binding Proteins; C006606:anti-thyroglobulin; C056626:thyroid microsomal antibodies; C056658:TPO protein, human; D007453:Iodide Peroxidase