Sex and thyroid hormone status in women with rheumatoid arthritis: are there any effects of menopausal state and disease activity on these hormones?

There has been considerable interest in the role of hormones in the aetiopathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In this study, we aimed to investigate sex and thyroid hormone conditions according to menopausal state and disease activation in RA women. Fifty‐four women with RA were included in the study. Age‐matched 28 women with low back pain were used as controls. Sex and thyroid hormones were evaluated in all patients, which included the measurement of estradiol (E2), progesterone, follicle‐stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone, thyroid‐stimulating hormone (TSH), total (T) and free (F) triiodothyronine (T3) and (T) and (F) thyroxine (T4). The RA patients were subdivided according to their pre‐menopausal and post‐menopausal status and their disease activation conditions. Mean age was 45.68 (±12.5) in women (aged 22–70) with RA and 42.39 (±12.45) in controls (aged 22–62). There were no significant differences in sex hormones, but there were statistically significant higher levels of TT3 and TT4 in whole women with RA compared to controls. Lower concentrations of FSH were detected in active RA patients. There were statistically lower concentrations of LH and higher concentrations of TT3 and TT4 in pre‐menopausal RA women, while lower concentrations of FSH were detected in post‐menopausal RA women. TT3 and FT3 levels of pre‐menopausal RA women were significantly higher than post‐menopausal RA women. There were no significant differences for all other hormones studied. In conclusion, sex and thyroid hormones have been influenced in women with RA. Reproductive and menopausal conditions should be taken into consideration when sex and thyroid hormones studies are carried out in RA women.