Prevalence of thyroid nodules in a sample of Egyptian systemic lupus erythematosus patients

Thyroid nodules (TNs) are distinct lesions inside the thyroid that can be determined from the adjacent thyroid parenchyma on ultrasonography. Complement activation, autoantibody generation, persistent inflammation, and immune-complex deposition are the hallmarks of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a complicated systemic autoimmune condition that damages tissues and organs. The current study aimed to detect TNs prevalence in SLE patients, and possible malignancy in a sample of Egyptian population. This cross-sectional study included 80 cases diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus, attending the Endocrinology and Rheumatology outpatient clinics at Ain-Shams University Hospital, to detect the prevalence of TNs in a sample of Egyptian SLE cases. There was a positive relation between Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SELDAI) score and TNs, also positive relation between SELDAI score and prevalence of malignancy. There was a higher remarkable number, 13 patients (43.3%), of TNs cases among the group with abnormal thyroid functions. In conclusion, the percent of thyroid malignancy among patients with SLE is the same as in general population, so that SLE itself did not increase the risk of thyroid malignancy. Also, the percent of TNs among cases with SLE was the same as in the general population. Activity of SLE in terms of SLEDAI score has relation with TNs and malignancy. Cases with SLE and TNs are more susceptible to thyroid dysfunctions.