THYROID-GLAND DISORDERS IN PRIMARY SJOGRENS-SYNDROME

Objectives: to evaluate the frequency of thyroid disorders in primary Sjogren's syndrome. Patients and methods: 121 consecutive patients mee ting Vitali's criteria for primary Sjogren's syndrome and 74 with rheu matoid arthritis underwent thyroid hormone assays, tests for antimicro somal and antithyroglobulin antibodies, tests for antinuclear antibodi es and antibodies to extractable nuclear antigens. Antimicrosomal and antithyroglobulin antibodies were also assayed in 404 controls. Result s: frequencies were calculated separately in males and females, and da ta in females were subjected to statistical analysis. As compared with controls, Sjogren's syndrome patients were more likely to have antimi crosomal antibodies (9% versus 17.6%, P<0.05) and both Sjogren's syndr ome and rheumatoid arthritis patients were more likely to have antithy roglobulin antibodies (1% versus 13.4% and 10.9%, respectively, P<0.00 01). Hypothyroidism was more common among Sjogren's syndrome patients (13.4%) than rheumatoid arthritis patients (3.1%) (P<0.05). Sjogren's syndrome patients with thyroid disorders were less likely to have anti nuclear antibodies, rheumatoid factors or a Chisholm's stage 3 or 4 li p biopsy. Conclusions: our data confirm that thyroid disorders are mor e common in primary Sjogren's syndrome than in rheumatoid arthritis an d controls. Production of autoantibodies and severe histologic lesions were less common in Sjogren's syndrome patients with than without thy roid disorders.