Thyroid dysfunction in primary Sjogren's syndrome: a long-term followup study

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Arthritis Rheum. 2003 Dec 15;49(6):804-9.

Thyroid dysfunction in primary Sjogren's syndrome: a long-term followup

study.

D'Arbonneau F, Ansart S, Le Berre R, Dueymes M, Youinou P, Pennec YL.

Laboratory of Immunology, Brest University Medical School Hospital,

F-29609 Brest Cedex, France.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence of thyroid dysfunction and related

autoantibodies in patients with primary Sjogren's syndrome (pSS), and to

determine whether these abnormalities develop over time. METHODS: pSS

patients (n = 137) and controls (n = 120) were investigated for thyroid

dysfunction and for the presence of anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody

(anti-TPO) and antithyroglobulin antibody (ATG). Followup time for

patients was 1-16 years, and 72 of the 120 controls were reevaluated 3

years after initial evaluation. RESULTS: Thyroid disease was more

frequent in the pSS patients than in the controls (30% versus 4%; P <

10(-4)), as were anti-TPO and ATG (11% versus 3%; P < 0.02, and 3%

versus 1%, not significant). Ten of 107 euthyroid pSS patients dropped

out of the study, and thyroid dysfunction became apparent at followup in

12 of the remaining 97. Most of the patients with thyroid-related

autoantibodies at entry developed autoimmune thyroid disease thereafter.

CONCLUSION: Thyroid dysfunction is frequent in pSS patients, and those

prone to develop thyroid disorders are identified by thyroid-related

autoantibodies, or by rheumatoid factor and anti-Ro/SSA activity.

PMID: 14673967