Thyroid Dysfunction and Autoantibody Positivity in Relation to Clinical Severity of Psoriasis

Open Access

Abstract

Background: Psoriasis is a chronic immune-mediated inflammatory disease, and other comorbidities that may be linked to psoriasis through the mechanisms of systemic autoimmune disorders. In patients with psoriasis, autoimmune thyroid disease has been observed more commonly, but the link between thyroid abnormalities and severity of psoriasis is not fully elucidated. Methods & Materials: A total of 63 patients with clinically and histopathologically diagnosed palmoplantar psoriasis (case) as well as apparently healthy age- and sex-matched controls were inducted into the study. Pasi and body surface area (BSA) were used to assess psoriasis severity. The laboratory examination consists of serum FT3, FT4, TSH, anti-TPO, anti-TG and TRAb. Results: The age of 35.8±16.7 years in DH and 35.4±16.9 in controls 78.0% of patients had chronic plaque psoriasis, and 73.0% had PASI >12, whereas 66.7% were reported with BSA involvement >10%. While most participants were euthyroid, thyroid function abnormalities were noted in 28 (44.4%) psoriasis patients. Patients of psoriasis with elevated anti-TPO antibodies (34.9%) and elevated anti-TG antibodies (46.0%). In patients with anti-TPO antibodies ≥5 IU/mL, 77.3% had PASI >12 and 81.8% had BSA >10%. Of these, 79.3% of those with anti-TG antibodies had PASI >12 and 75.9% had BSA >10%. Conclusion: In this study, the prevalence of thyroid dysfunction was high in patients with psoriasis and detection rates of thyroid autoantibodies were also elevated. Altered thyroid function was correlated with larger BSA involvement and relatively high serum levels of anti-TPO and anti-TG were mostly identified in patients with extensive and severe psoriasis.