Subclinical Hypothyroidism (SCH) is a common disorder with a prevalence of 1–10% in the adult population. Aetiologically, most cases of persistent SCH are due to autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT). Hypothyroidism and inflammatory arthritis tend to coexist, but data on this association are sparse. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is one of the most common autoimmune diseases and also the most frequent chronic inflammatory arthropathy. Anti cyclic-citrullinated-peptide (anti-CCP) antibodies hold promise for earlier and more accurate diagnosis of disease, improved prognostic information, and have been implicated in RA pathogenesis. In the present study, newly diagnosed subclinical hypothyroid patients tested positive for either anti TPO or anti TG antibodies were screened for the presence of anti- CCP by ELISA. 20% of patients showed the presence of anti CCP antibodies while controls consisting of non autoimmune subclinical hypothyroid patients showed only 2.5%. Moreover, the prevalence of anti-CCP antibodies was more in female population (75%) compared to male patients similarly in controls the positivity was observed only in female. The healthy euthyroid showed absence of anti CCP antibodies. The study thus emphasizes the necessity for screening the patients with autoantibodies like anti TPO & anti TG for inflammatory arthritis such as Rheumatoid arthritis.
