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Vol 8, No 3 (2022)
Review paper
Published online: 2022-09-30
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Autoimmune disorders and thyroid function in patients with rheumatoid arthritis after biological treatment

Nadia Sawicka-Gutaj1, Dominika Wietrzyk1, Natalia Zawalna1, Abikasinee Erampamoorthy1, Marek Ruchała1
·
Rheumatology Forum 2022;8(3):111-121.
Affiliations
  1. Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland

open access

Vol 8, No 3 (2022)
Review
Published online: 2022-09-30

Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and autoimmune diseases of the thyroid gland (AITD) often occur together. As autoimmune diseases, they share common pathological pathways, reflecting the fact that the treatment of the underlying disease can influence the course of thyroid disorders. The pharmacotherapy of RA is based on the supply of disease-modifying anti-inflammatory drugs with an increasing focus on biologics. This article aims to review the available literature describing the effects of biological treatments on thyroid function. The use of biological drugs may have the potential benefit of regulating the level of anti-thyroid antibodies. On the other hand, tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a) inhibitors are not indifferent to thyroid function and may increase the incidence of subacute thyroiditis. The coexistence of AITD and RA prompts consideration of the need for routine thyroid screening in RA patients and for RA screening in patients with thyroid disease who report joint problems.

Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and autoimmune diseases of the thyroid gland (AITD) often occur together. As autoimmune diseases, they share common pathological pathways, reflecting the fact that the treatment of the underlying disease can influence the course of thyroid disorders. The pharmacotherapy of RA is based on the supply of disease-modifying anti-inflammatory drugs with an increasing focus on biologics. This article aims to review the available literature describing the effects of biological treatments on thyroid function. The use of biological drugs may have the potential benefit of regulating the level of anti-thyroid antibodies. On the other hand, tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a) inhibitors are not indifferent to thyroid function and may increase the incidence of subacute thyroiditis. The coexistence of AITD and RA prompts consideration of the need for routine thyroid screening in RA patients and for RA screening in patients with thyroid disease who report joint problems.

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Keywords

autoimmune thyroid disease; rheumatoid arthritis; biological treatment; TNF-alpha inhibitors; Grave’s ophthalmopathy

About this article
Title

Autoimmune disorders and thyroid function in patients with rheumatoid arthritis after biological treatment

Journal

Rheumatology Forum

Issue

Vol 8, No 3 (2022)

Article type

Review paper

Pages

111-121

Published online

2022-09-30

Page views

3977

Article views/downloads

799

DOI

10.5603/RF.2022.0016

Bibliographic record

Rheumatology Forum 2022;8(3):111-121.

Keywords

autoimmune thyroid disease
rheumatoid arthritis
biological treatment
TNF-alpha inhibitors
Grave’s ophthalmopathy

Authors

Nadia Sawicka-Gutaj
Dominika Wietrzyk
Natalia Zawalna
Abikasinee Erampamoorthy
Marek Ruchała

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