Prevalence of autoimmune thyroid disease in recurrent aphthous stomatitis

Introduction: Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) is a multifactorial recurrent oral lesion which is an autoimmune disease. TH1 cytokines are the most important etiological factors. Autoimmune thyroid disease (ATD) is one of the most common autoimmune diseases and generally coexists with other autoimmune diseases. This study assessed the prevalence of thyroid disease in patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis. Materials and Methods: This case control study assessed 100 patients with RAS. Oral medicine specialists diagnosed RAS clinically; venous blood samples were analyzed for thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free triiodothyronine (fT3), total thyroxine (fT4), thyroglobulin, antithyroid peroxidase antibody (antiTPO) and antithyroglobulin antibody (antiTG) levels. Results: Fifty patients with RAS aged between 1842 years (28.5 #xB1;5.8) and 50 healthy volunteers aged 1945 years (27.3 #xB1;5.4) participated. In RAS patients, fT3 and TSH levels were significantly higher (P=0.031, P=0.706); however, fT4 level was lower in the RAS group (P=0.447). Anti TG and antiTPO levels were significantly higher in the RAS group (P=0.008, P=0.067). Conclusion: Our study showed that ATD prevalence was significantly higher in RAS patients. Based on this study, we recommend assessment of thyroid hormones and antibodies in RAS patients.