THYROID-DISORDERS IN KOREAN PATIENTS WITH SYSTEMIC LUPUS-ERYTHEMATOSUS

Although autoimmune thyroid diseases have been associated with systemi c lupus erythematosus (SLE), the prevalence of thyroid disorder is con troversial. To clarify the prevalence of thyroid disorder in Korean pa tients with SLE, thyroid functions and diseases were evaluated in 63 S LE patients. Of these patients, Hashimoto's thyroiditis (9.5%) as well as euthyroid sick syndrome (14.3%) were more common than Graves' dise ase (4.8%). The prevalence of antithyroid autoantibodies (antimicrosom al and/or antithyroglobulin autoantibodies) in SLE was 27.0%. High tit ers of these autoantibodies were mainly detected in Hashimoto's thyroi ditis. These results suggested that thyroid diseases are not uncommon in SLE and autoimmune thyroid diseases are possible manifestations in some patients with SLE. Antithyroid autoantibodies may be good predict ors for the detection of Hashimoto's thyroiditis developing in SLE.