Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Vitiligo is an acquired depigmenting disorder due to destruction of melanocytes. Most authorities believe that the most important pathogenetic mechanism of the disease is autoimmunity. Other autoimmune disorders such as thyroid autoimmune diseases occur commonly in association with vitiligo. This study was designed to determine the role of thyroid ultrasonography as a noninvasive and cost effective diagnostic method for early detection of thyroid disorders in patients with vitiligo.

Methods: Fifty patients with vitiligo were evaluated in this case–control study. Control group (35 cases) were matched with case group respecting confounding factors such as age and sex. Comprehensive dermatological examinations, thyroid autoimmune and function tests and thyroid ultrasonography were performed for all cases (in both case and control groups). Sonographer was blind to dermatologic and endocrinologic findings of cases. Mean thyroid volumes, echopattern and texture of thyroid in sonographic studies and mean levels of thyroid autoimmune and function tests were compared between case and control groups. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: Although mean total thyroid volume and mean left and right lobes volumes were not significantly different between cases and controls, but texture and echopattern of thyroid gland as well as mean serum Anti-TPO levels were significantly different between two groups (P<0.05). Serum anti-TPO levels had significant correlation with thyroid volume changes.

Conclusion: Thyroid ultrasonography, as an accurate and noninvasive diagnostic method, can be used to study morphology, size and parenchyma of thyroid gland in patients suspected to have autoimmune thyroid diseases.