Objective: To elucidate the possible development of Sjögren's syndrome in young women with previous postpartum thyroiditis, a clinical and laboratory case-control followup study was undertaken.
Methods: Forty female patients (mean age 36 years) with well documented postpartum thyroiditis 5 years previously and 30 healthy mothers (mean age 36 years) who all had undergone normal partus an average of 5 years previously, were included in the study.
Results: Symptoms of dry eyes, caries, arthralgias, swollen joints and fatigue were reported significantly more often in women with previous postpartum thyroiditis compared with healthy mothers of the same age (p < 0.05). Using an ELISA with purified (SSA)Ro and (SSB)La proteins derived from a human cell line as antigens, 34% of the women were anti-SSB positive and 46% were anti-SSA positive at followup. Furthermore, 15/35 women with a history of postpartum thyroiditis (43%) had objectively impaired tear and/or saliva production; 5 of 24 investigated women had keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) and 2 of 7 salivary gland biopsies showed chronic lymphocytic sialadenitis. Three women (8.6%) had the combination of KCS and xerostomia.
Conclusion: Laboratory and clinical features of Sjögren's syndrome are frequently seen in younger women with previous postpartum thyroiditis.