AB1120 Thyroid hormone concentrations in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis from a single tertiary referral centre
Authors: R. Eremciuc, N. Revenco
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2018)

<h3>Background</h3> Despite mounting evidence linking both endocrine disorders and rheumatic diseases, there is a lack of studies investigating any association between the prevalence and clinical characteristics of thyroid disorders and juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). <h3>Objectives</h3> The aim of this study is to assess the prevalence of abnormalities in thyroid function in patients with JIA, and to investigate the possible association between this endocrine disorders and specific disease activity markers. <h3>Methods</h3> Thirty patients diagnosed with JIA according to the International League of Association for Rheumatology were screened for thyroid diseases. We performed stratified analyses by sex, age, subtype of JIA, disease duration, the Juvenile Arthritis Disease Activity Score (JADAS-71), clinical peculiarities, laboratory values and ultrasound examination of thyroidal gland. <h3>Results</h3> Our results revealed that 67% of patients were girls. The mean age of the studied group was 127,56±8,8 months, the median age at diagnosis was 74,33±8,49 months and the median disease duration was 50,83±9,33 months. The most frequent types of JIA were oligoarticular (40%), polyarticular negative RF (34%) and systemic (20%). The median JADAS-71 score was 16,91±1,64 [range values from 5 to 34]. The status of the thyroid function in those patients was euthyroidism. Contrary to other findings in the literature, a high free triiodothyronine was recorded in 33% of cases. However, specific antibodies as antithyroglobulin and antithyroid peroxidase were not detected in any patients. The ultrasound examination of thyroidal gland revealed abnormalities in 30% cases, most of them cystic changes (26,6%) and hypo-echogenicity (23,33%). In 2 cases were detected 2 thyroid nodules. Furthermore, 2 patients presented mean thyroid volume above 2SDS according their age reference values. An increased vascular flow pattern on Doppler examination of thyroidal gland was found in 10% cases. Correlation and regression analysis showed low age at diagnosis and JADAS-71 score (more than 20) to be predictors for those thyroid disorders. <h3>Conclusions</h3> The goal of early identification of endocrine comorbidities in rheumatic diseases is to prevent and limit the clinical disease impact. The identification of autoimmune diseases in preclinical stage secondary to juvenile idiopathic arthritis allow a better disease control and quality of life. <h3>References</h3> [1] Tronconi E., Miniaci A., Pession A., The autoimmune burden in juvenile idiopathic arthritis, Italian Journal of Pediatrics, 2017, 43:56. [2] Elnady B.M., et all., Prevalence and clinical significance of nonorgan-specific antibodies in patients with autoimmune thyroiditis as predictor markers for rheumatic diseases, Medicine, 2016, 95:38 (e4336). [3] Robazzi T.C., Adan L.F., Autoimmune thyroid disease in patients with rheumatic diseases, Rev Bras Reumatol, 2012; 52 (3): 417–430. <h3>Disclosure of Interest</h3> None declared