Biochemical pattern of thyroid function test and clinical impression of thyroid disorder in a rural tertiary health institution in Nigeria

Thyroid disorders are one of the most common endocrine disorders seen globally. Diagnostic challenge may arise both clinically and biochemically because of the multiple function of thyroid hormones (THs). Request for thyroid function test (TFT s) may be based on clinical impression that may suggest thyroid dysfunction or obvious symptoms and signs that are diagnostic of hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study looks at the biochemical patterns of TFTs and the clinical impression of thyroid disorders in a rural tertiary institution. Information extracted from the laboratory register includes indication for the test, the hospital number, the gender, the age, and the THs assayed. The corresponding biochemical pattern of the TFT result was established. Results: A total of 297 requests were submitted for TH assay; 34 were excluded from the present study because there were no clinical information. There were 239 females and 24 males giving a female-to-male ratio of 9.9:1. Majority of the requests (36.5%) were for goiters, followed by gynecological disorders (20.9%) and clinical thyroid disorders (17.9%). About 46% (45.8%) of the goiter cases were biochemically euthyroid, whereas 13.5% were biochemically primary hyperthyroid. Among the 47 cases of thyroid disorders by the physician's clinical impression, 27.7% were euthyroid, 17% were biochemically hyperthyroid, and 10.6% were hypothyroid. Of the 55 gynecological disorders assessed, only 7.3% show biochemical evidence of TH alteration with 56.4% being euthyroid. About 47% (46.6%) of those that did routine medical examination had altered TH level that includes hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. Conclusion: Goiter is the most prevalent thyroid disorder in this environment. Biochemical pattern of thyroid function test in our environment was mostly euthyroid despites clinical features suggestive of thyroid disorders

Hyperuricaemia and its Relations with Serum Lipid Abnormalities in Untreated, Newly Diagnosed Adult Nigerian Hypertensive Patients.

Aims: To determine the prevalence of hyperuricaemia in adult Nigerians with untreated newly diagnosed hypertension and to evaluate its relations with serum lipid abnormalities. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: General Out-patient Department, Medical Out-patient Department and Emergency Room of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Nigeria between May 2007 and October 2007. Methodology: One hundred and fifty (150) untreated newly diagnosed hypertensive patients 18 years and above and one hundred and fifteen (115) age and sex-matched normotensive individuals were recruited into the study. Thorough clinical evaluation and laboratory investigations were done for both patients and controls including serum uric acid and serum lipid profile. Atherogenic ratio (Total cholesterol/Low density lipoprotein-cholesterol) was calculated for both patients and controls. Results: Of the one hundred and fifty newly diagnosed hypertensive patients, 52 (34.7%) were males and 98 (65.3%) females, with a range of 19-85 years and a mean age (±SD) of 50.412.3 years. Among the normotensive controls, 49 (42.6%) were males and 66 (57.4%) females with range of 23-80 years and a mean (±SD) of 50.712.7 yrs. Mean serum UA in hypertensive patients and normotensive controls was 0.40.1 mmol/l and 0.30.1 mmol/l respectively. Hyperuricaemia was found in 36.7% of hypertensive patients and 17.4% of normotensive controls (P<0.001). Serum UA was significantly higher in hypertensive patients than in normotensive controls (P<0.0001). Among hypertensive patients high TC and high LDL-c were the most prevalent types of serum lipid abnormalities. There was a significant positive correlation between serum UA and TG (r=0.21, P = 0.01). Conclusion: The study shows that hyperuricaemia and serum lipid abnormalities are prevalent among adult Nigerians with hypertension. There was a significant correlation between serum uric acid and serum triglyceride. This study recommends routine measurement of serum uric acid in both newly diagnosed hypertensive patients as well as those on antihypertensive drugs.