Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Thyroid dysfunction has been described as a common clinical entity in HIV infected patients, commonly with negative autoimmune tests. The aim of this work was to determine the prevalence of thyroid abnormalities in a cohort of HIV-infected males in a stable clinical state, the effect of exposure to ART on thyroid function and to identify the risk factors.

Materials and methods: This is a cross-sectional, observational study of 90 HIV infected males (42±8.2 años). Exclusion criteria: HCV co-infection, AIDS-defining active disease, drug abuse or therapeutic non-compliance. Statistical analysis: descriptive, Pearson/ρ Spearman correlation of quantitative variables; Student-t or Mann–Whitney U test for differences of TSH–FT₄ on qualitative variables; χ² test between thyroid alterations and qualitative data; statistical significance P<0.05.

Results: Prevalence of thyroid abnormalities was 6.7% (95% CI 3.1–13.8): 1/90 subclinical hyperthyroidism, 2/90 subclinical hypothyroidism, 2/90 low FT₄, 2/90 antiTPO positive. FT₄ concentration was associated with CD4 nadir (r: 0.221, P=0.037), whereas TSH levels were correlated with viral charge (RNA cop./ml; r: −0.26, P=0.01). antiTPO antibodies were correlated both with CD4 concentration (r=−0.28, P=0.008), and viral charge (r 0.29, P=0.005). We did not find any association between HIV treatment and thyroid dysfunction.

Conclusion: Male patients with HIV infection in stable clinical state have similar prevalence of thyroid dysfunction than general population, with lower prevalence of autoimmunity. The mechanism and clinical consequences of low FT₄ are not yet known and have to be studied.

Declaration of interest: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest that could be perceived as prejudicing the impartiality of the research project.

Funding: This research did not receive any specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sector.