The connective-tissue diseases and symptoms associated with Hashimoto's thyroiditis.

THE relation between the thyroid gland and rheumatic disorders has long excited interest.1 2 3 4 5 6 7 In particular, an association between some of the connective-tissue diseases and Hashimoto's thyroiditis (lymphadenoid goiter) has recently seemed likely.6 , 8 , 9 Many reports of this coexistence have consisted of studies of only 1 or several patients. For this reason, study of a large group of cases of Hashimoto's disease was undertaken to determine the incidence of concomitant rheumatic symptoms and musculoskeletal disease. Methods The clinical records of 506 patients with the diagnosis of Hashimoto's thyroiditis seen at the Mayo Clinic from the years 1958 through 1960 were studied. In . . .