Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis is a part of the spectrum of thyroid autoimmune diseases. Even the proper diagnosis is obtained by pathological exam; usually the detection of high serum antithyroid antibodies is enough to diagnose the disorder. It also represents the most frequent cause of hypothyroidism in non-iodine deficient areas. Nevertheless the presence of the antithyroid antibodies does not always correlates with thyroid dysfunction.

Aim: Our aim was to study the correlations between the level of plasma antithyreoperoxidase antibodies (ATPO) and the value of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), the age of the patient, as well as the presence of a second autoimmune disease (AID).

Material and methods: We studied 1500 patients. They were investigated by anamnesis (age, the presence of an already diagnosed AID). We also performed lab exams (TSH, ATPO).

Results: The sex ratio was 1483 women versus 17 men. The Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis (HT+) group included 755 patients with levels of serum ATPO above 34 IU/ml. The control group (HT−) included 745 patients with levels of ATPO below 34 IU/ml. The mean age was 50.71 years in the first group and 55.19 years in the second group. We found no TSH-ATPO correlation (r=0.16, slope=9.65, P=NS), neither ATPO-age correlation (r=0.08, slope=0, P=NS). In the TH+ group, 118 patients had a second autoimmune disease like vitiligo, anemia, and drug allergies. In the TH− group, there were 78 patients with another AID. The correlation ATPO-AID was statistically significant (χ²=0.879, P=0.003).

Conclusion: Higher levels of ATPO do not necessary associate with anomalies of the thyroid function as shown by serum TSH. Advanced age of the patient does no correlate with higher level of plasma ATPO. The increased values of ATPO as seen in Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis showed a higher chance for having a second autoimmune disease.