Endocrine Abstracts

Aim: Hypothyroidism is a common chronical disease worldwide, leading to a lifelong metabolic slowdown that can have a significant negative impact on the quality of life, both physiologically and psychologically. Despite achieving euthyroidism with replacement, there is evidence that symptoms persist. In this study, we aim to examine the effectiveness of thyroid hormone replacement and the effect of autoimmunity from a clinical-biochemical point of view by evaluating the euthyroidic patients both due to autoimmune thyroiditis or total thyroidectomy comparatively.

Material and Method: The study is a prospective cross-sectional study consisting of a total of 60 patients and 30 healthy control individuals. Of 60 patients, there are 30 cases diagnosed with autoimmune thyroiditis and 30 patients with total thyroidectomy who applied to the internal medicine and endocrinology outpatient clinics of our hospital. The data was collected and maintained with a patient information form, which includes the sociodemographic characteristics, vital signs and clinical characteristics of the participants, the Billewicz Score in which hypothyroid-specific symptoms and signs are questioned, and the international SF-36 Quality of Life Scale in which the status of the quality of life is questioned. In addition, biochemical and hormonal profiles were measured and recorded.

Results: Weekly LT4 dosage was found to be higher in thyroidectomy-induced hypothyroidism group, serum fT4 levels were also statistically significantly higher in this group, whereas it was revealed that there was no difference in serum fT3 levels. There was a negative correlation between LT4 dose and SF 36 mental health and social functionality sub-parameters. Serum cholesterol levels were higher in the autoimmune thyroiditis group, and blood pressure levels were higher in the thyroidectomized group. There was no significant difference between the two patient groups in terms of Billewicz sub-parameters and total score classifications of hypothyroid patients. Similarly, physical function, physical role disability, emotional role difficulty, energy/vitality, mental health and general health perception, which belong to the SF-36 life quality scale sub-parameters, were considerably lower than the control group.

Conclusions: According to the data obtained from the study, while autoimmunity do not have an additional contribution to clinical, biochemical deterioration and quality of life. Patients with hypothyroidism should be evaluated periodically in terms of symptoms and quality of life, even though they become euthyroid.

Keywords: Hypothyroidism, autoimmune thyroiditis, L-thyroxine, quality of life