Endocrine Abstracts

Thyroid disease is common among the population, and the prevalence increases with age. In patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) the risk of thyroid dysfunction and thyroid autoimmunity is increased. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between thyroid function and T1DM duration. There were evaluated 110 patients (71 women and 39 men) with T1DM between 2013 and 2015 and were appreciated antibodies against thyroid peroxidase (ATPO) (normal values range <34 UI/ml) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) (normal values range 0.17 – 4.05 mIU/l). From 110 patients, 15 (13.6%) patients were excluded because of treated clinical hypothyroidism, the other 95 patients were divided into 3 groups depending on the T1DM duration: 1st group (<5 years); 2nd group (5–10 years); 3rd group (>10 years).

Results: The 1st group included 18 (18.9%) patients with average TSH 1.438±0.79 (0.6 – 2.9 mIU/l) and ATPO 20.2±8.8 (9.8 – 36 UI/ml). The 2nd group was made by 32 (33.7%) patients with TSH 1.2±0.2 (0.4 – 3.4 mIU/l) and ATPO 19.1±4.6 (5–47 UI/ml). In the 3rd group were 45 (47.4%) patients with TSH 2.1±0.3 (0.5–5.9 mIU/l) and ATPO 85.1±34.7 (5 – 600 UI/ml). In this group 10 (22.2%) patients had subclinical hypothyroidism without any clinical signs. Statistically significant correlation was found between TSH level and T1DM duration (r=0.404; P<0.01).

Conclusions: Thyroid pathology in T1DM is often overlooked due to lack of clinical manifestations, which underscores screening importance. In the study were observed a correlation between TSH level and T1DM duration. So, with the increase T1DM duration the number of patients with autoimmune thyroid pathology is increasing especially subclinical hypothyroidism.