LACK OF ASSOCIATION BETWEEN THYROID STATUS AND CHONDROCALCINOSIS OR OSTEOARTHRITIS - THE FRAMINGHAM OSTEOARTHRITIS STUDY

Objective. To assess whether current thyroid status is associated with chondrocalcinosis or osteoarthritis (OA), we examined the cross secti onal association of serum thyrotropin (thyroid stimulating hormone, TS H) with chondrocalcinosis and with knee OA in members of the Framingha m OA study. Methods. Knee radiographs were taken at the 18th biennial examination (1983-85) and measurement of serum TSH at either the 15th (1977-79) or the 18th biennial examination. Chondrocalcinosis was dich otomized as absent or present and knee OA was based on a Kellgren and Lawrence score of grade 2 or greater in either knee. Thyroid status wa s determined by serum TSH concentration classed into clinically releva nt categories: less than or equal to 0.1 mU/l (low); > 0.1 < 0.4 mU/l (slightly low); 0.4 to 5.0 mU/l (normal); > 5 less than or equal to 10 mU/l (slightly high); and > 10 mU/l (high). Results. Data were collec ted on 577 men and 798 women. We found no association between elevated serum TSH concentration and chondrocalcinosis, Our results, though no t statistically significant, suggest an inverse relation, with an odds ratio (OR) of 0.41 (95% CI 0.10, 1.73) for those subjects in the high est TSH group and 1.79 (95% CI 0.39, 8.24) for those in the lowest TSH group, compared to subjects in the normal range, We found no associat ion between serum TSH concentration and radiographic knee OA, with an OR of 0.85 (95% CI 0.47, 1.51) for those in the highest serum TSH grou p and 1.51 (95% CI 0.54, 4.22) for those in the lowest TSH group, comp ared to the normal group. Exclusion of subjects taking thyroid hormone confirmed these null results. Conclusion. There was no evidence, in a large, unselected population of older persons, of a significant assoc iation between current thyroid status and either chondrocalcinosis or OA.