To analyze the global research landscape of autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT) and its relationship with coexisting autoimmune diseases (ADs), identifying research trends and future directions.
Approach:
Data Extraction: Data was extracted from PubMed, Web of Science Core Collection, and Scopus, analyzing 2,201 publications from 1980 to 2024.
Data Visualization: Visualization was performed using VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and the bibliometrix R package.
Key Findings:
The analysis encompassed 95 countries, 2,561 institutions, and 10,355 authors, with publications across 769 sources.
The United States led in the number of published articles, while the University of Pisa emerged as the most productive institution.
The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism had the highest volume of publications and citations in this field.
Alessandro Antonelli was identified as the most prolific author, with the highest number of co-cited authors.
Keyword analysis identified five primary areas of research: immune dysregulation and inflammation mechanisms, comorbidity phenomena and shared pathological foundations, immune disturbances in infections and pregnancy, genetic susceptibility and genetic mechanisms, and biomarkers and cancer risk.
Interpretation:
The study provides insights into global research trends and highlights key areas for future investigation in the context of AIT and coexisting autoimmune disorders.
Limitations:
The study is limited to bibliometric analysis and may not capture all nuances of clinical and biological research.
Focus on publications may overlook ongoing research not yet published.
Conclusion:
The study offers a comprehensive overview of the literature on autoimmune disorders and autoimmune thyroiditis, suggesting future research directions.
