Anti-thyroid antibodies in primary thyroid disorders
Abstract
Autoantibodies to various components of the thyroid gland have been
implicated in the causation of primary hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. A study
aimed at establishing the association, if any, of the presence of anti-thyroid
autoantibodies with primary dysfunctional thyroid disorders was carried out at the
Clinical Chemistry and Immunology laboratories of the Kenyatta National Hospital
(K.N.H.). The study involved 57 hyperthyroid and 15 hypothyroid patients seen over a
period of 6 months, of which 58 were females and 14 were males. The patients were
tested for the presence of antimicrosomal and antithyroglobulin antibodies.
Results showed that 36.1 % of the patients tested positive for the
antithyroglobulin antibodies (a-TgAbs) whil~ 51.4% were positive for the
antimicrosomal antibodies (a-TPOAbs). Antimicrosomal antibodies were detected in
57.1 % and 50% of the male and female patients respectively (p=0.76). Fifty percent of
the hypothyroid patients were found to have the a-TgAbs while only thirty three
percent of the hyperthyroid group had the antibody. Twenty three out of twenty six
patients (88.5%) who tested positive for a-TgAbs were also positive for a-TPOAbs
(p=O.O16). Most of those who tested positive for these antibodies were aged 31-50
years (p=0.30 and 0.214 for c-TgAbs and a-TPOAbs respectively).
The findings of this study show that the antimicrosomal and thyroglobulin
antibodies are common in patients with primary thyroid disease and should be
considered in the pathogenesis of these disorders. Their measurement should be
considered in the evaluation of patients suspected of having autoimmune thyroid
disease.
Citation
Masters of Medicine (Human Pathology)Publisher
University of Nairobi School of Medicine