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| Photo from APPI presentation. |
Press Release
Philippine Council for Health Research and Development
Scientists
recommend thyroid screening for rheumatic patients
Researchers at the University of the
Philippines – Philippine General Hospital linked autoimmune thyroid diseases
(ATD) with autoimmune rheumatic disorders (ARD) in the study entitled, “Prevalence
of Undiagnosed Autoimmune Thyroid Disease and Thyroid Dysfunction in Filipino
Patients with Autoimmune Rheumatic Disorders.”
Autoimmune disorders like ARDs and ATDs
are conditions where the body’s immune system attacks the body’s own organs.
Various autoimmune disorders can be simultaneously present at a time. In fact,
according to the researchers, previous studies suggested the connection between
ARDs and ATDs. They said, “A number of studies have demonstrated the
association of ATDs with ARDs. As a result of these observations, some authors
consider it clinically important to screen patients with systemic autoimmune
diseases for the coexistence of thyroid disorders.”
While some types of ARDs, like
rheumatoid arthritis (RA), can be managed easily, some ARDs are fatal.
Disorders such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), systemic sclerosis (SSc),
and mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) or Sharp's Syndrome are known to
take the lives of their victims. Because a person may suffer from various
autoimmune diseases at the same time, the grave conditions of the patients with
ARDs can go from bad to worse in case ATDs emerge.
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In the study, the research tested the
rate of incidence of ATDs with different cases of ARDs. The study was conducted
to a total of 152 patients diagnosed with ARD at the UP-PGH, aged 19 years and
above.
Results of the thyroid tests confirmed
increased chances of ATDs for ARD sufferers. About 22% of the ARD patients were
also diagnosed with ATDs. Initially, researchers thought that the longer
duration of ARD, the likelier they are affected with some form of ATD but the
study revealed otherwise. The researchers said, “It has been hypothesized that
there is a slow universal progression of the autoimmune process so that the
patients develop the disease over time. Thus, we expect that a longer disease duration
would be associated with ATD. However, the opposite was observed in this
study.”
Because the study effectively linked the
possibility of having ATDs in patients with ARDs, the researchers advised to
screen ARD patients for thyroid dysfunctions. They said, “Thyroid dysfunction
meets many criteria for condition justifying population screening because even
mild derangement in thyroid function are associated with significant and
reversible morbidities such as atrial
fibrillation and reduced bone mineral density.” They added, “As such, it is
important to consider screening these patients for a coexistent thyroid disease
early in the course of their rheumnatologic condition to help prevent the
complications associated with thyroid dysfunction and to avoid adding to the
morbidity of the existing ARD.”