AUTHOR=Fazzi Piera , Fallahi Poupak , Ferrari Silvia Martina TITLE=Sarcoidosis and Thyroid Autoimmunity JOURNAL=Frontiers in Endocrinology VOLUME=8 YEAR=2017 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/endocrinology/articles/10.3389/fendo.2017.00177 DOI=10.3389/fendo.2017.00177 ISSN=1664-2392 ABSTRACT=
Most of the studies have shown a higher risk for subclinical and clinical hypothyroidism, antithyroid autoantibodies [overall antithyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPOAb)], and in general, thyroid autoimmunity, overall in the female gender in patients with sarcoidosis (S). A significantly higher prevalence of clinical hypothyroidism and Graves’ disease was also described in female S patients with respect to controls. Gallium-67 (Ga-67) scyntigraphy in S patients, in the case of thyroid uptake, suggests the presence of aggressive autoimmune thyroiditis and hypothyroidism. For this reason, ultrasonography and thyroid function should be done in the case of Ga-67 thyroid uptake. In conclusion, thyroid function, TPOAb measurement, and ultrasonography should be done to assess the clinical profile in female S patients, and the ones at high risk (female individuals, with TPOAb positivity, and hypoechoic and small thyroid) should have periodically thyroid function evaluations and suitable treatments.