Study Of Abnormalities of Thyroid Function in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in A Tertiary Care Center.

Background-Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease that can involve multiple organs, causing widespread inflammation and tissue damage. One organ often affected is the thyroid gland, which plays a critical role in regulating metabolism. Thyroid dysfunction, such as hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, and autoimmune thyroiditis, is frequently observed in SLE patients. However, the exact mechanisms linking these disorders and their clinical significance are not well understood. This study seeks to investigate thyroid dysfunction's prevalence and clinical implications in SLE patients to improve patient management and outcomes. Method-This was a prospective observational study conducted at a tertiary care hospital over a 6-month period. Fifty-two newly diagnosed SLE patients meeting the SLICC criteria were included. Their clinical data, including age, gender, and presenting symptoms, were collected. Disease severity was measured using the SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) at admission, with follow-up assessments at 3 and 6 months. Thyroid function was evaluated by measuring T3, T4, and TSH levels at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months. Routine blood investigations were also conducted. Results-Among the 52 patients, 94.2% were female, with the majority (40.4%) aged between 18-25 years. Thyroid dysfunction was observed in 23.1% of the participants--7.7% had subclinical hypothyroidism, and 15.4% had clinical hypothyroidism. The study revealed significant improvements in disease activity (SLEDAI scores) across all thyroid status groups after 6 months of treatment. Euthyroid patients had a 79.73% reduction in SLEDAI scores, while those with subclinical and clinical hypothyroidism showed reductions of 57.89% and 82.35%, respectively. Statistical analysis indicated no significant differences in treatment outcomes among the thyroid status groups. Conclusion- This study confirms that thyroid dysfunction is common in SLE patients and significantly affects disease activity. Regular thyroid function screening in SLE patients is essential for timely diagnosis and management of this comorbidity, which could improve disease prognosis and treatment outcomes. Further research is required to explore the shared pathophysiological mechanisms between SLE and thyroid disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]