title: The Prevalence of Thyroid Dysfunction in Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multisystemic autoimmune disease caused by immune system-mediated tissue damage. Autoimmune thyroiditis (AT) is an organ-specific disease associated with production of a variety of antibodies such as antinuclear antibodies, anti-double-stranded DNA, anti-Ro antibodies and anti-cardiolipin antibodies.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of thyroid dysfunction and thyroid auto-antibodies in patients with SLE and its relation to SLE disease and other autoantibodies.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a case-control study. The study included a total of 88 patients with SLE and 88 age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers as control group. Two study groups were compared regarding thyroid function test, antinuclear antibody (ANA), antibodies to double-stranded DNA (dsDNA), anti- thyroglobulin antibody (anti-Tg), and anti-thyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO) antibody.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of SLE patients and controls were 32.16 ± 9.19 and 32.48 ± 9.47 years, respectively (P = 0.821). Patients had significantly higher prevalence (43.2% vs. 23.9%; P = 0.015) and titers (221.8 ± 570.5 vs. 78.2 ± 277.2; P = 0.036) of antibodies to Tg compared to controls. The patients had significantly lower titers of T3 compared to controls (125.2 ± 35.6 vs. 136.2 ± 26.5; P = 0.021). The titers of T4, TSH and anti-TPO antibody did not differ significantly between the two study groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Thyroid dysfunction was not higher in SLE patients compared to healthy individuals. However, anti-Tg antibodies were higher in SLE patients. It has not yet been established that thyroid function tests should be performed routinely in SLE patients.
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine Ward, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Nakisa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rasaei
authors.affiliation: Endocrine and Metabolism Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Mesbah
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shams
authors.affiliation: Autoimmune Disease Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Eskandar
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kamali-Sarvestani
authors.affiliation: Shiraz Geriatric Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Ali
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Nazarinia
keywords: Antithyroid; Lupus Erythematosus Systemic; Thyroiditis Autoimmune Antibodies