Clinical Research
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2003. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Mar 15, 2003; 9(3): 615-618
Published online Mar 15, 2003. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v9.i3.615
Crohn’s disease and risk of fracture: does thyroid disease play a role?
Nakechand Pooran, Pankaj Singh, Simmy Bank
Nakechand Pooran, Pankaj Singh, Simmy Bank, Division of Gastroenterology Albert Einstein College of Medicine - Long Island Jewish Medical Center, New Hyde Park, New York, USA Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Simmy Bank, M.D., FRCP, Division of Gastroenterology, Long Island Jewish Medical Center, New Hyde Park, NY 11040, USA. simmybank@lij.edu
Telephone: +1-718-4704692 Fax: +1-718-3430128
Received: October 5, 2002
Revised: October 27, 2002
Accepted: November 4, 2002
Published online: March 15, 2003
Abstract

AIM: To assess the role of thyroid disease as a risk for fractures in Crohn’s patients.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted from 1998 to 2000. The study group consisted of 210 patients with Crohn’s disease. A group of 206 patients without inflammatory bowel disease served as controls. Primary outcome was thyroid disorder. Secondary outcomes included use of steroids, immunosuppressive medications, surgery and incidence of fracture.

RESULTS: The prevalence of hyperthyroidism was similar in both groups. However, the prevalence of hypothyroidism was lower in Crohn’s patients (3.8% vs 8.2%, P = 0.05). Within the Crohn’s group, the use of immunosuppressive agents (0% vs 11%), steroid usage (12.5% vs 37%), small bowel surgery (12.5% vs 28%) and large bowel surgery (12.5% vs 27%) were lower in the hypothyroid subset as compared to the euthyroid subset. Seven (3.4%) Crohn’s patients suffered fracture, all of whom were euthyroid.

CONCLUSION: Thyroid disorder was not found to be associated with Crohn’s disease and was not found to increase the risk for fractures. Therefore, screening for thyroid disease is not a necessary component in the management of Crohn’s disease.

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