Abstract

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Systemic lupus erythmatosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease and more than 100 auto antibodies have been detected in SLE. The present study was designed to determine the presence of anti-thyroid antibodies (ATA) in SLE patients.

METHODS: It was a descriptive study and 42-SLE patients positive for anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA) and or anti-ds DNA (ds-DNA) antibodies were selected from Department of Rheumatology, Sheikh Zayed Hospital Lahore. Blood sample was collected and ATA was determined by indirect immunofluorescence technique.

RESULTS: Thirty-nine (39) (92.9%) and 32 (76.2%) patients had ANA and ds-DNA antibodies respectively. On comparison, it was not statistically significant. Twenty- three (23) (54.76%) subjects had ATA and on comparison, it was not statistically significant. All the positive patients for ATA were females.

CONCLUSION: Sensitivity of ANA and ds-DNA positive suspected SLE subjects to have ATA in their serum was 74%. About 55% of SLE patients were positive for ATA.

Key words: Systemic lupus erythematosus, Anti-thyroid antibodies, Immunofluorescence