Anti-rheumatic drugs could have a preventive effect on autoimmune thyroid disease

A recent observational study by Karolinska Institutet, published in the Journal of Internal Medicine, suggests that anti-rheumatic drugs used for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) may lower the risk of developing autoimmune thyroid diseases in RA patients. While individuals with RA have an elevated susceptibility to autoimmune thyroid diseases, conventional treatments for RA rarely involve immunomodulatory drugs. Instead, thyroid hormone therapy is typically used for thyroid-related issues in autoimmune thyroid diseases. The study explored whether immunomodulatory drugs, known to reduce joint inflammation in RA patients, could also mitigate the risk of autoimmune thyroid diseases. Analyzing data from over 13,000 RA patients and a control group of over 63,000 individuals, the researchers observed a reduced risk of autoimmune thyroid disease in RA patients, particularly those treated with immunomodulatory drugs or biological DMARDs (Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs), with a 46 percent lower risk compared to the control group. The findings suggest a potential preventive effect of certain immunomodulatory drugs on autoimmune thyroid disease. To read the full article, click here. To read more about diseases, click here.