RESEARCH - Antithyroid antibodies and thyroid dysfunction in RA: prevalence and clinical value

[Guest guest]

Published in: Autoimmunity, Volume 41, Issue 1 February 2008 , pages 111 - 115

Subject: Immunology;

Anti-thyroid antibodies and thyroid dysfunction in rheumatoid

arthritis: Prevalence and clinical value

Authors: Fabiola Atzeni - a; Doria b; Ghirardello b;

Maurizio Turiel c; Alberto Batticciotto a; Carrabba a;

Piercarlo Sarzi-Puttini a

Affiliations: a Rheumatology Unit, L Sacco University Hospital, Milan, Italy

b Chair of Rheumatology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy

c Department of Cardiology, IRCCS, Istituto Ortopedico Galeazzi,

University of Milan, Milan, Italy

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess thyroid function as

well as the prevalence and clinical value of anti-thyroid antibodies

in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: Seventy patients with active RA (ACR criteria), 9 males and

61 females, mean age 47 years (range 15-77) were analyzed.

Anti-thyroperoxidase (TPOAb) and anti-thyroglobulin antibodies (TgAb)

were tested using radioimmunoassay. Free thyroxine (FT4) and free

triiodothyronine (FT3) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) serum

levels were measured using electro-immunochemiluminescence (ECLIA,

Elecsys Roche). Clinical variables, including tender and swollen joint

count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP),

rheumatoid factor (RF), anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody

(anti-CCP) and antinuclear antibodies (ANA) were also evaluated.

Statistics were performed by the SPSS statistical software for

Windows.

Results: Twenty-six patients (37%) with RA were positive for TPOAb and

16 (23%) for TgAb. In 5 (7.1%) patients TSH level was slightly

elevated, ranging between 4.52 and 15.65 UI/ml. The increase of TSH

levels was associated with normal FT4 in 3 cases (4.2%) and with

reduced FT4 in 2 cases (2.8%). One patient (1.5%) had low TSH serum

value along with normal FT4. No differences in clinical and

serological data between anti-thyroid positive and negative patients

were observed.

Conclusion: Our study shows an increased prevalence of anti-thyroid

antibodies in RA patients with a low prevalence of hormonal

alterations. However, anti-thyroid antibodies do not seem to identify

any peculiar RA phenotype.

http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~content=a789181179

--

Not an MD

[Guest guest]

I fail to understand how 70 people is a study. That blows my mind. Two

they talk about RA symptoms and nothing about thyroid symptoms. Yet,

again...we are talking about a lab range...not how a person feels.

OK...I need to get off my soap box :-)

Kate G

Hashi's

AS

At 08:01 AM 4/2/2008, you wrote:

>Published in: Autoimmunity, Volume 41, Issue 1 February 2008 , pages 111

>- 115

>Subject: Immunology;

>

>

>Anti-thyroid antibodies and thyroid dysfunction in rheumatoid

>arthritis: Prevalence and clinical value

>

>

>Authors: Fabiola Atzeni - a; Doria b; Ghirardello b;

>Maurizio Turiel c; Alberto Batticciotto a; Carrabba a;

>Piercarlo Sarzi-Puttini a

>Affiliations: a Rheumatology Unit, L Sacco University Hospital, Milan,

>Italy

> b Chair of Rheumatology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy

> c Department of Cardiology, IRCCS, Istituto Ortopedico Galeazzi,

>University of Milan, Milan, Italy

>

>

>Abstract

>

>Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess thyroid function as

>well as the prevalence and clinical value of anti-thyroid antibodies

>in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

>

>Methods: Seventy patients with active RA (ACR criteria), 9 males and

>61 females, mean age 47 years (range 15-77) were analyzed.

>Anti-thyroperoxidase (TPOAb) and anti-thyroglobulin antibodies (TgAb)

>were tested using radioimmunoassay. Free thyroxine (FT4) and free

>triiodothyronine (FT3) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) serum

>levels were measured using electro-immunochemiluminescence (ECLIA,

>Elecsys Roche). Clinical variables, including tender and swollen joint

>count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP),

>rheumatoid factor (RF), anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody

>(anti-CCP) and antinuclear antibodies (ANA) were also evaluated.

>Statistics were performed by the SPSS statistical software for

>Windows.

>

>Results: Twenty-six patients (37%) with RA were positive for TPOAb and

>16 (23%) for TgAb. In 5 (7.1%) patients TSH level was slightly

>elevated, ranging between 4.52 and 15.65 UI/ml. The increase of TSH

>levels was associated with normal FT4 in 3 cases (4.2%) and with

>reduced FT4 in 2 cases (2.8%). One patient (1.5%) had low TSH serum

>value along with normal FT4. No differences in clinical and

>serological data between anti-thyroid positive and negative patients

>were observed.

>

>Conclusion: Our study shows an increased prevalence of anti-thyroid

>antibodies in RA patients with a low prevalence of hormonal

>alterations. However, anti-thyroid antibodies do not seem to identify

>any peculiar RA phenotype.

>

>

>http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~content=a789181179

>

>

>--

>

>Not an MD

>

>------------------------------------

>

>