Thyroid nodules in Hispanic patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Thyroid Disease in Lupus: An Updated Review

In the following review, we seek to provide an overview of the current understanding of various thyroid manifestations affecting patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), including topics ranging from thyroid‐related complications to SLE in pregnancy. Autoimmune diseases tend to coincide, and an association between thyroid disease and SLE has been reported for more than 50 years. There is no evidence that the coexistence of thyroid disease and lupus alters the disease course or manifestations of either. Both hypothyroidism and thyroid nodules are seen more frequently in patients with SLE than in the general population. The rate of thyroid cancer is twice as prevalent in patients with SLE compared with those without SLE. Several forms of thyroid disease are more common among patients with SLE, with adverse consequences in pregnancy. Future work will require delineating the mechanism behind these associations and understanding the role of antirheumatic agents with concomitant thyroid disease.

Risk Factors for Thyroid Cancer in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

We studied 3 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who developed thyroid cancer (TC). Potential risk factors for TC development was explored. Fifty-three patients with a clinical diagnosis of rheumatic diseases including SLE at our hospital between July 2014 and December 2014 were enrolled. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory findings were retrospectively compared between TC-positive and TC-negative patients. Among rheumatic diseases, lymphadenopathy/splenomegaly at treatment commencement, and lymphadenopathy/splenomegaly, painless ulcer (oral, nasal, or mucosal), and weight loss during the entire study period were precipitating factors. Lower current values of hemoglobin and methylprednisolone pulse therapy favored TC development. In 29 SLE patients, lymphadenopathy/splenomegaly at treatment commencement, lymphadenopathy/splenomegaly and weight loss during the entire study period, urinary granular casts at treatment commencement, and a lower current value of hemoglobin predisposed patients to TC. Several risk factors of TC are present in pediatric SLE. Patients with SLE should be investigated vigorously for TC with ultrasound.