Prevalence of thyroid abnormalities in patients with dermatitis herpetiformis and in control subjects with HLA-B8/-DR3.

PURPOSE: The prevalence of thyroid dysfunction as measured by the presence of overt thyroid disease, abnormal results of thyroid function tests, or antithyroid antibodies was compared in patients with dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) and a normal control group who had the HLA-B8/-DR3 haplotype.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study population consisted of 56 patients with DH and 26 control subjects with the HLA-B8/-DR3 haplotype. All were examined for thyroid function abnormalities and thyroid autoantibodies.

RESULTS: Patients with DH had a statistically significant increase in the prevalence of abnormal thyroid function test results and autoantibodies: 32% versus 4% for controls (Z = 2.01, p less than 0.02). In patients with DH, hypothyroidism was the most common thyroid abnormality (12 of 56) followed by hyperthyroidism (four of 56). Two patients had normal thyroid function test results with thyroid autoantibodies. Risk factors for thyroid abnormalities in patients with DH were increasing age (chi 2 = 6.55, p less than 0.02, significant) and the presence of thyroid microsomal antibodies. The HLA-B8/-DR3 haplotype was not a risk factor for thyroid abnormalities.

CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that thyroid disease is independently associated with DH. Examination of patients with DH should include thyroid function tests along with assays for antithyroid antibodies.