Risk of progression to overt hypothyroidism in Indian patients with subclinical hypothyroidism: a prospective observational study

Background:Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) is a common endocrine disorder but spontaneous course of SCH in India is lacking. The aim of the study is to determine the spontaneous course of SCH and to identify the risk factors, which enhances the occurrence of overt hypothyroidism (OH).Method: This is a real world prospective observational study. 58 SCH were followed up six monthly for one year to determine the course of SCH.Results: After one year of follow up 11 (18.97%) patients progressed to OH. 37 (63.79%) remained in subclinical hypothyroid category. In 10 (17.29%) patients TSH (thyrotropin) normalized. Rate of progression (odds ratio: 4.58; 95% CI: 1.14, 18.28) was significantly more in anti-thyroid peroxidase (TPO) positive group as compared to anti-TPO negative group. Conclusions: This first data from India clearly shows that SCH has a variable course. Rate of progression to OH is high (18.97%) in Indian SCH patients. In a cohort of 58 patients followed for one year only the presence of anti-TPO antibody waspredictive of OH. The initial risk stratification can identify patients with SCH at greatest risk for progression to OH in which treatment is mandatory.

Decreased serum levels of IL-27and IL-35 in patients with Graves disease

ABSTRACT Objectives Graves' disease (GD) is an autoimmune disease causing the overproduction of the thyroid hormone from thyroid gland. This disease is mainly the result of the production of antibodies against TSH receptors. Cytokines play an important role in orchestrating the pathophysiology in autoimmune thyroid disease. The regulatory role of IL-12 on TH1 cells has been proven. IL-27 and IL-35, members of IL-12 cytokine family, are two cytokines that have been newly discovered. IL-35 has been identified as a novel immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory cytokine while IL-27 has both inflammatory and anti-inflammatory functions. The objective of the current study was to examine the changes in the serum level of the foregoing cytokines in GD patients in comparison to healthy controls. Materials and methods In this study, serum levels of IL-27 and IL-35 were determined by an ELISA method; anti TPO and anti Tg were measured by an RIA method in 40 new cases of Graves's disease. The findings were compared with 40 healthy controls. Results The results showed a significant difference between IL-27 and IL-35 regarding their serum levels with P values of 0.0001 and 0.024, respectively; anti TPO and anti Tg levels of the cases were also significantly different from controls (p < 0.001). Conclusion The reduction in the serum levels of IL-27 and IL-35 in GD patients compared to normal subjects suggests the possible anti-inflammatory role of these cytokines in GD.

Study of prevalence and types of anemia in primary hypothyroidism

Background: Hypothyroidism is common disease with varying frequency between countries. Anemia in hypothyroidism can be normocytic normochromic, microcytic hypochromic and macrocytic hypochromic. Anemia severity is associated with hypothyroidism degree. Objective of this study to study the association between anemia and hypothyroidism and prevalence and types of anemia in primary hypothyroidism (subclinical and overt both).Methods: This cross sectional study was carried out at tertiary care hospital in North India. Newly diagnosed 100 primary hypothyroid patients and 100 controls with age and sex matched evaluated for anemia. Prevalence and types of anemia were studied and severity of anemia was correlated with that of hypothyroidism.Results: Anemia was observed in 90 patients with hypothyroidism. Symptoms due to anemia were higher in cases than in controls. RBCs morphology showed normocytic normochromic in 59, microcytic hypochromic in 26 and macrocytic hypochromic in 15 cases. Serum anti-TPO positivity was present in 71.1% in cases as compared to 33.33% in controls. Anemia was severe in cases with high TSH.Conclusions: Anemia was more prevalent in cases of hypothyroidism than in euthyroid controls. Normocytic normochromic type of anemia was most common type in this study. Serum anti-TPO positivity was 71.1% in cases. There was statistically significant negative correlation between TSH and haemoglobin. Symptoms of anemia were more in hypothyroid patients than in euthyroid anemic patients.

Living in Rural Areas of Peninsular Malaysia: Risk Factor for Goitre

@#Introduction: Thyroid disorders are among common medical conditions encountered in clinical practice. However, the disease burden among Malaysian population has not been established. This study was aimed to determine the prevalence of goitre and its associated factors among adult population in Peninsular Malaysia. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed in 5 pre-assigned regions in Peninsular Malaysia. Participants’ sociodemographic profile and medical history were recorded. Physical examinations were done looking for abnormalities of the thyroid gland and signs of thyroid dysfunctions. The diagnosis of goitre was made by palpation and corroborated by the repeat examination by another investigator. The World Health Organization (WHO) goitre grading system was used. Fifteen millilitre of blood were withdrawn and analysed at a central laboratory. Results: Among 2190 respondents, the prevalence of goitre was 9.3%. Goitre was associated with positive anti-thyroperoxidase and anti-thyroglobulin antibodies. Females were at higher risk of goitre (adjusted OR = 2.4; 95% CI 1.6–3.5; p<0.001). The other risk factors of goitre were Indian ethnicity (adjusted OR=2.0; 95%CI 1.2–3.3; p=0.006), positive anti-thyroperoxidase (adjusted OR=1.8; 95% CI 1.1-3.1; p=0.024) and living in rural area (adjusted OR = 1.7; 95% CI 1.2–2.5; p=0.002). These areas had been shown to suffer from some degree of iodine insufficiency in the past. Conclusions: The prevalence of goitre in Peninsular Malaysia was comparable with other studies. The main predictors of thyroid disorders are female gender and thyroid antibodies. Living in rural areas was associated with goitre.

Significance Of Anti-Thyroperoxidase Antibody Estimation In Patients With Hypothyroidism

Introduction: Hypothyroidism is a common endocrine disorder characterized by decreased levels of thyroid hormones. Anti-thyroperoxidase antibody is produced in autoimmune thyroiditis which inhibits the synthesis of thyroid hormones. Aims & Objectives: The study was planned to explore the significance of anti-TPO antibody in hypothyroid patients. Materials and Methods: 150 newly diagnosed patients, age 20-60 years were enrolled for the study. Patients were divided on the basis of antiTPO levels as anti-TPO positive(n=87) anti-TPO negative (n=63).Thyroid hormones viz. serum triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), free T3 (FT3), free T4 (FT4) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels were compared between the two groups. Results: Mean serum TSH level was significantly higher in anti-TPO positive group. Mean serum T3 & T4 levels were comparable (P= NS) among the two groups whereas FT3 (P= 0.014) and FT4 (P= 0.003) were significantly lower in the anti-TPO positive group. Conclusion: Serum FT3 & FT4 represent the biologically active proportion of thyroid hormones. The present study suggests that lower FT3 & FT4 levels can better correlate with anti-TPO activity in patients of hypothyroidism

Prevalence of Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis and Its Association with Vitamin D Deficiency in West Bengal, India.

Objective: The aim of our study is to screen the prevalence of Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis and to evaluate a correlation between 25(OH)Vitamin D deficiency and AITD in hypothyroid patients of West Bengal. Study Design: Ethical clearance was received for the study. 130 patients from the Medicine OPD of Ramakrishna Mission Seva Pratishthan (RKMSP) and 100 healthy individuals were included in the study from March to July 2015. Methodology: Brief clinical history was taken from all the subjects and serum 25(OH)Vitamin D, Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH), Thyroid peroxidise antibody (TPOab), Parathyroid hormone (PTH) were estimated by Cobas e 601 Immuno assay auto-analyzer. Results: 48.4% (63/130) of the screened patients were found to have AITD with elevated level of anti-TPO in their serum. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was significantly higher in patients with AITD compared to controls (Group I: 14.67±4.51; Group II: 11.26±2.8 vs Control: 28.66±8.3 respectively, p<0.0001). There was a significant inverse association between serum 25(OH)D and Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis established by the negative r values (Group I: r = -0.2 , p=0.03; Group II: r = -0.5, p=0.013 vs Control: r=0.07, p=0.48). Conclusion: It has been demonstrated from this study that all the patients with Hashimoto’s Thyroid disorder had significantly low serum 25(OH)vitamin D suggesting its involvement in the pathogenesis of AITD.

Glutamic acid decarboxylase (anti-GAD) & tissue transglutaminase (anti-TTG) antibodies in patients with thyroid autoimmunity.

Background & objectives: Several autoimmune disorders have been reported to be associated with autoimmune thyroiditis and may coexist with other organ-specific autoantibodies. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the presence of tissue transglutaminase (anti-TTG) and glutamic acid decarboxylase (anti-GAD) antibodies in patients suffering from autoimmune thyroiditis as diagnosed by anti-thyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO) antibodies, which may indicate high risk for developing celiac disease or type 1 diabetes mellitus. Methods: Five thousand children and 2800 adults were screening as part of a general health examination done on a voluntary basis in four different parts of Delhi. A total of 577 subjects positive for anti-TPO antibody constituted the cases. Equal number of age and sex matched anti-TPO antibody negative controls were randomly selected from the same cohort to form paired case control study. The cases and controls were further divided into two groups as follows: group-1 (children and adolescent <18 yr), group-2 (adults >18 yr). Serum samples of cases and controls were analysed for thyroid function test (FT3, FT4, and TSH), anti-TTG and anti-GAD antibodies. Results: A total of 1154 subjects (577 cases and 577 controls) were included in this study. Hypothyroidism was present in 40.2 per cent (232) cases compared to only 4.7 per cent (27) in controls (P<0.001). Anti-TTG and anti-GAD antibodies were present in 6.9 and 12.5 per cent subjects among cases compared to 3.5 per cent (P=0.015) and 4.3 per cent (P=0.001) in controls, respectively. Only anti-GAD antibody were significantly positive in cases among children and adolescents (P =0.0044) and adult (P=0.001) compared to controls. Levels of anti-TTG and anti-GAD antibodies increased with increasing titre of anti-TPO antibody. Interpretation & conclusions: Our findings showed high positivity of anti-GAD and anti-TTG antibodies among subjects with thyroid autoimmunity. It is, therefore, important to have high clinical index of suspicion for celiac disease or type 1 diabetes mellitus in patients with autoimmune thyroiditis.

Autoinmunidad y función tiroidea en escolares de 2 regiones del Estado Mérida con deficiencia de yodo corregida

Objetivos: El presente estudio transversal fue planificado para evaluar la presencia de anticuerpo antitiroideo antiperoxidasa (ac.anti-TPO) y la función tiroidea, en dos áreas endémicas de bocio, con deficiencia de yodo corregida. Métodos: Se estudiaron 109 escolares, de ambos sexos, entre 6-12 años de edad, procedentes de Bailadores (BA=54) y Mucuchíes (MU=55). El diagnóstico de bocio se obtuvo por palpación clínica. La yoduria se determinó en 34 niños de BA y en 37 de MU, mientras que la concentración sérica de T4 libre (T4L), T3 libre (T3L), T3 total (T3T), TSH y ac.anti-TPO fueron determinadas en todos los escolares estudiados. Adicionalmente se realizó la cuantificación de T3T y ac.anti-TPO en uno de los progenitores de cada niño. Resultados: En BA, el 53,5% de los escolares presentaron bocio y en MU el 42,5%. La mediana de la excreción urinaria de yodo no fue estadísticamente diferente entre ambos grupos (BA=181 µg/L, MU=200 µg/L). La frecuencia global de detectabilidad de ac.anti-TPO en escolares fue del 45,5%, pero solo el 5% presentó seropositivad. Una concentración de ac. anti-TPO, entre 10 y 30 UI/mL, se observó en el 39% de los niños de BA y 40% en MU; 87% en adultos de BA y 54% en MU. En BA, concentraciones de ac.anti-TPO mayores de 30 UI/mL se observaron en el 10% de los niños y en el 17% de los adultos; en MU, no se observó ningún caso positivo para ac.anti-TPO en niños, mientras que en adultos la frecuencia de positividad fue del 8%. Las pruebas de función tiroidea de los escolares y de los progenitores de ambas regiones fueron similares y compatibles con estado de eufunción No hubo asociación entre la presencia de ac.anti-TPO y bocio. Conclusiones: Estos resultados indican que la corrección de la deficiencia de yodo en las áreas endémicas estudiadas se asocia con una alta frecuencia de detectabilidad de ac.anti-TPO, sin cambios en la función tiroidea.

Objective: This cross-sectional study was designed to evaluate the thyroid peroxidase autoantibody (TPO-Ab) concentrations and thyroid function in schoolchildren from two geographic regions were iodine deficiency was corrected. Methods: One hundred nine schoolchildren 6 to 12 years of age were studied: Bailadores (BA=54) and Mucuchíes (MU=55). Goiter size, urinary iodine, and serum freeT4, freeT3, total T3, TSH and TPO-Ab were measured. Total T3 and TPO-Ab were also determined in some parents. Results: Overall frequency of TPO-Ab detectability and positivity in schoolchildren were 45,5% and 5% respectively. TPO-Ab concentration ranging between 10-30 UI/mL was observed in 39% of children from BA and 40% from MU; 87% of parents from BA and 54% from MU. TPO-Ab concentration >30 UI/mL was observed in 10% of children and 17% of their parents. None of the children from MU had positive TPO-Ab, while 8% of their parents were positive. Median urinary iodine was similar in both regions (BA=181 µg/L, MU=200 µg/L). Thyroid function tests were normal in all cases. Goiter was found in 53,5% of children from BA and 42,5% from MU . No association between goiter and ac.TPO-Ab concentration was observed. Conclusions: These results suggest that in both endemic goiter regions, sufficient iodine prophylaxis by iodized salt is frequently associated with low detectable TPO-Ab levels and no changes in thyroid function.