Endocrine Abstracts

During the last three decades the number of patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) type 2 have increased, which is associated with an increase in the prevalence of obesity among the world’s population. DM type 2 and obesity are closely linked with the production of leptin by adipose tissue. Diseases of the thyroid gland (TG) as well as type 2 DM are the most common endocrine pathologies. Many studies have found an increase of antithyroid antibodies titers against the background of DM type 2. According to the literature data, a chronic autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT) affects 10% of women and 20% of male population.

The aim of the study: To determine the characteristics of antithyroid autoimmunity in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, depending on the leptin level in blood serum and develop a method of the identified changes correction.

Materials and methods: Depending on the leptin level in blood serum patients were divided into groups as follows: Group I – level of leptin – less than 10 ng/ml (12 patients), group II – level of leptin within 10–25 ng/ml (19 patients), group III – level of leptin more than 25 ng/ml (15 patients).

Thyroid autoimmunity was diagnosed by antibodies to thyroid peroxidase (AT-TPO) and thyroglobulin (AT-TG) determination in the blood serum.

In order to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment, patients were randomly divided into two groups: 20 people with DM type 2 received standard treatment. The main group included 30 people who receivedsodium selenite, which is equivalent to 100 micrograms of selenium, by 1 tablet per day for 30 days against the background of basic therapy.

Results of the study: According to obtained data AT-TG level in group III was 2.1 times higher than in group I (P < 0.05). AT-TPO titers in groups II and III was 44.3% and 92.2%, respectively higher than in group I (P < 0.05).

A significant improvement of indicators that reflect the autoimmune processes against thyroid tissue have been found only in the group of persons who took sodium selenite with standard therapy: the level of AT-TG became 22.3% lower (P < 0.05) and AT-TPO – 30.6% than before sodium selenite treatment (P < 0.05)

Conclusions: 1. In patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 an antithyroid antibodies titers increase.

2. Significant decrease in antibodies to thyroglobulin and thyroid peroxidase titers in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus against the background of sodium selenite intake have been observed.