RESUMO
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a most common progressive, multi-systemic autoimmune disease characterized by chronic inflammation of multiple joints with associated systemic manifestations. RA has an estimated prevalence of 0.5 -1% of the adult population worldwide and is a leading cause of chronic morbidity and mortality in the industrialized world.A systematic analysis with RA showed 76% had one or more extra-articular feature. Thyroid hormone dysfunction and /or autoimmune thyroid disease were present in 6% to 33% patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis. MATERIAL: We conducted a hospital based observational, descriptive study from July 2018 until the number of sample are met. SAMPLE SIZE: 260 RA patients who are attendind OPD & IPD, that meet inclusion and exclusion criteria. OBSERVATION: The present study included the patients ranging from 15 years to above 65 years. It was observed that maximum cases were in the age group of 35-45 years (37.31%). The mean age of the study participants was 40.80±10.91years. In the present study we found that rheumatoid arthritis was more common in females 212 (81.54%) than the male cases 48(18.46%). In the present study we found that thyroid dysfunction is observed in 20% of patients. The most common thyroid dysfunction observed was overt hypothyroidism seen in 10.77% of the patients followed by subclinical hypothyroidism seen in 8.46% and subclinical hyperthyroidism 0.77% of patients. Anti-TPO antibodies were seen in 82.14% of patients with clinically overt hypothyroidism. CONCLUSION: Majority of the cases of rheumatoid arthritis are in the age group of 40.80 ±10.91 years and females account for the majority of the cases of rheumatoid arthritis. In our study thyroid dysfunction are observed in 20% of patients. Prevalence of thyroid dysfunctions in rheumatoid arthritis is high and associated with thyroid autoimmunity and suggested that all rheumatoid arthritis patients should go for thyroid functions.
