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. 1993 Jun;52(6):454–456. doi: 10.1136/ard.52.6.454

Thyroid dysfunction in rheumatoid arthritis: a controlled prospective survey.

J B Shiroky 1, M Cohen 1, M L Ballachey 1, C Neville 1
PMCID: PMC1005071  PMID: 8323398

Abstract

OBJECTIVES--To determine whether thyroid dysfunction is found with increased frequency in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS--A controlled prospective survey was conducted on a cohort of patients with RA derived from a hospital clinic and a private surburban rheumatology practice. A control group with similar demographic features was generated from the same sources and included subjects with either osteoarthritis or fibromyalgia. Consecutive patients were evaluated over a six month period. The evaluation included a complete history and physical examination, and determination of serum thyroxine, free thyroxine, triiodothyronine, thyroid stimulating hormone (IRMA), antinuclear antibodies, and rheumatoid factor. RESULTS--Of the 91 women with RA evaluated, 29 (30%) had evidence of thyroid dysfunction compared with 10 (11%) of 93 controls. The excess thyroid dysfunction is due to either hypothyroidism or Hashimoto's thyroiditis and was independent of age, increasing duration of disease, rheumatoid factor, and antinuclear antibodies. CONCLUSIONS--Thyroid dysfunction is seen at least three times more often in women with RA than in women with similar demographic features with non-inflammatory rheumatic diseases such as osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia.

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Selected References

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