ASSOCIATION OF THYROID DISEASE IN SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS

Umme Shaila*, Sadia Israt Zaman, Dr. Aliza Akter and Md Saqif Shahriar

ABSTRACT

Background: Systemic lupus erythematous (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by multisystem inflammation and presence of circulating auto-antibodies directed against self-antigens leading to inflammatory damage of many target organs including the skin, joints, kidney, blood-forming cells, blood vessels and the central nervous system. Objective: To assess the thyroid function status and to identify thyroid status in SLE patients. Methodology: This hospital based cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Medicine and Biochemistry in Sir Salimullah Medical College, Dhaka, during the period of January 2018 to December 2019. Adult patients with SLE were approached for inclusion in this study. Total 100 individual were interviewed focusing their socioeconomic status particularly family size and type, household income, years of formal education, occupation along with demographic profile. Moreover, clinical presentation, duration of disease, and severity were assessed. The Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) was used to measure disease activity of the participants. Data collection were done by interviewing the patients and recorded in a separate case record form. Data analysis was done by the statistical program Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 25.0 (Chicago, Illinois, USA). Results: Among a total number of 50 SLE cases 82% were in euthyroid state, 8% had subclinical hypothyroidism, 6% had hypothyroidism and 4% patients had euthyroid sick syndrome. Among thyroid antibodies, anti-thyroid peroxidase (Anti-TPO) antibody was positive in 48% of SLE cases and anti-thyroglobulin (Anti-TG) antibody was positive in 32% patients. Thyroid disorder was present in 18% of SLE cases and all of them had positive anti-TPO antibody. Conclusion: It may be concluded from this study that thyroid disorders and presence of thyroid auto-antibodies are common in SLE patients and assessment of thyroid function in SLE patients as a part of biochemical and immunological profiles may help in early detection of associated thyroid disorders.

Keywords: Systemic lupus erythematous, autoimmune, lymphocytes.