To test a hypothesis derived from observations in general practice that thyroid antibodies were associated with chronic widespread musculoskeletal complaints.
Cross-sectional study of 40-42 year old men and women based on a self-administered questionnaire and on results of blood tests.
Sarpsborg municipality, Norway.
737 men and 771 women who attended the National Health Screening Service's mobile unit in 1989 and answered the questionnaire.
Prevalence of detectable microsomal thyroid antibodies in persons with and without chronic widespread musculoskeletal complaints.
The prevalence of thyroid microsomal antibodies was significantly higher in persons with than without chronic widespread musculoskeletal complaints (16.0% versus 7.3%, p < 0.01). The increase was restricted to women (20.4% versus 11.6%, p = 0.02). Thyroid function tests did not differ significantly between the two groups.
The association between chronic widespread musculoskeletal pain complaints and thyroid antibodies in women may reflect a subgroup of patients in which thyroid autoimmunity, rather than thyroid function, is important. A possible relationship to fibromyalgia is discussed as well as a hypothetical role for thyrotropin releasing hormone.