Thyroid Disorder in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients in Southeast Iran

Background: We conducted this study to clarify the prevalence of thyroid dysfunction in
patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) and compared it to a matched healthy
controls group.

Material and methods: Eighty-three SLE and 166 matched healthy controls underwent clinical
examination and laboratory evaluation for serum T3, T4, TSH and Thyroid peroxides antibody
(TPO AB).

Results: 24.1% of SLE patients and 13.3% of control group had thyroid dysfunction (p value
= 0.04). Clinical thyroid dysfunction was seen neither in SLE patients nor in the control
group. Elevated TSH levels were the most common dysfunction (19.3%) of the SLE, compared
with control group (5.4%). Positive TPO antibody was detected in 16.9% of SLE and
16.3% of the control group. Mean level of TPO antibody was higher in SLE patients with
thyroid dysfunction (137.05) than SLE patients without the disorder (30.8) (p value=0.007).

Conclusion: We concluded thyroid dysfunction was more frequent in SLE patients than in
healthy controls. Moreover, SLE patients with anti TPO were more likely to have thyroid
dysfunction than the control group.