RESEARCH - High prevalence of thyroid autoimmunity and hypothyroidism in patients with psoriatic arthritis

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Journal of Rheumatology

October 2006

High Prevalence of Thyroid Autoimmunity and Hypothyroidism in Patients with

Psoriatic Arthritis

ALESSANDRO ANTONELLI, ANDREA DELLE SEDIE, POUPAK FALLAHI, SILVIA MARTINA

FERRARI, MARCO MACCHERONI, ELE FERRANNINI, STEFANO BOMBARDIERI, and LUCREZIA

RIENTE

ABSTRACT.

Objective. To evaluate the prevalence of thyroid disorders in a group of

patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

Methods. A complete thyroid investigation was carried out in 80 patients

with PsA, in gender- and age-matched subjects (1:5) drawn from the general

population (controls), and in 112 patients with rheumatoid arthrtitis (RA)

with similar iodine intake.

Results. Anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies (AbTPO), a hypoechoic thyroid,

and subclinical hypothyroidism were significantly more frequent in women

with PsA than in control women, and their frequency was similar to that in

patients with RA (positive AbTPO titer 28%, 12%, and 31%; hypoechoic thyroid

31%, 16%, and 36%; subclinical hypothyroidism 25%, 8%, and 12%,

respectively). Among men, positive AbTPO titers and a hypoechoic thyroid

were found more frequently in the patients with PsA and RA than in controls

(positive AbTPO titer 14%, 5%, and 2%; hypoechoic thyroid 16%, 10%, and 3%,

respectively). All patients with PsA with subclinical hypothyroidism had

polyarticular involvement (p < 0.05) and a longer disease duration (years 19

± 15 vs 11 ± 8, p = 0.03) than patients with euthyroid PsA. The prevalence

of subclinical hyperthyroidism, thyroid nodules, and thyroid enlargement was

not significantly different among the 3 groups.

Conclusion. Our results demonstrate a significantly higher prevalence of

thyroid autoimmunity (positive AbTPO, hyoechoic thyroid) findings in men and

women with PsA and of subclinical hypothyroidism in women with PsA than in

the general population. Therefore, thyroid function tests, an AbTPO assay,

and thyroid ultrasound should be performed as part of the clinical

evaluation, particularly in women with PsA. (First Release Aug 1 2006; J

Rheumatol 2006;33:2026-8)

http://www.jrheum.com/abstracts/abstracts06/2026.html

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