Can Hashimoto's disease be associated with lupus erythematosus?
Disease description:
My husband was diagnosed with Hashimoto's thyroiditis in the first half of the year. Recently, I noticed that he has developed many red rashes and swelling on his body, which seems like lupus erythematosus. Could one condition have triggered the other? May I ask whether Hashimoto's thyroiditis can be complicated by lupus erythematosus?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Liu Aihua
Hashimoto's thyroiditis is an autoimmune inflammation of the thyroid gland, while lupus erythematosus is another type of autoimmune disease. Typical symptoms of lupus include fatigue, fever, and weight loss. Specific skin lesions include malar rash, subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus, and discoid rash. Nonspecific skin manifestations include photosensitivity, alopecia, oral ulcers, cutaneous vasculitis, pigmentary changes, livedo reticularis, Raynaud's phenomenon, and urticaria-like rashes. Musculoskeletal involvement may present as arthralgia, arthritis, joint deformities, myalgia, muscle weakness, and avascular necrosis. Therefore, Hashimoto's thyroiditis does not cause systemic lupus erythematosus.
