الفهرس 
INTRODUCTION AND AIM OF THE WORKOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Aim of the work
To investigate the presence and frequency of thyroid dysfunction in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
The results of this study were as follows:
1- 28 (58.3%) of our RA patients had subclinical hypothyroidism. 3 of them had past thyriodism, none of our OA patients showed this abnormality.
2- Regarding the prevalence of antithyroid antibodies there was 21 (43.8%) RA patients positive for TGA compared with 3 (20%) OA patients. Also, there were 24 (50%) RA patients positive for TMA, as compared with (40%) OA patients.
3- Our result concluded that there is familial aggregation of RA.
4- No association was detected between either thyroid dysfunction or immune disorder and any clinical, radiological or serological features of the underlying rheumatoid disease. However, the patients with thyroid dysfunction, but not those with thyroid autoimmunity, had significantly higher RAI compared with the rest.
5- No correlation between thyroid dysfunction and immune profile abnormalities was detected in our RA patients and controls.
6- Finally, no correlation between age and thyroid function parameters or thyroid immune profile was detected in our RA patients controls.
Conclusions and recommendations
1- This study confirms the high prevalence of thyroid disorders (especially subclinical hypothyroidism) in RA patients. Symptoms suggestive of hypothyroidism in RA patients are more likely due to RA. Therefore evaluation of RA patients should include a physical examination of the thyroid gland, screening of autoimmune thyrioditis and thyroid function tests.
2- The treatment for TD in RA patients must be investigated.