Abstract
Objective:The tendency to autoimmune diseases has been reported to be increased in beta thalassemia minor (BTM). The aim of this study was to evaluate whether thyroid autoimmunity is higher in BTM.Methods:Patients with BTM (n=86) and a healthy control group (n=93) were included in this cross-sectional case-control study. The two groups were compared in terms of anti-thyroglobulin (anti-TG) and anti-thyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO) and thyroid hormones.Results:In the BTM group, thyroid hormones and serum anti-TG and anti-TPO antibody levels were not statistically different from those of the control group. The BTM and control groups were similar in terms of anti-thyroid antibody (ATA) positivity prevalence. In the BTM group, anti-TG was 11.6% and anti-TPO was 14% positive, while these values were 14% and 12.9% positive, respectively in the control group (p=0.806 and p=0.989, respectively). The proportion of anti-TG and/or anti-TPO antibody positive subjects was found to be 20.9% in the BTM group, and 20.4% in the control group (p=0.919). The ratios of subjects with euthyroidism, hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism were similar in both groups.Conclusions:As the thyroid autoimmunity prevalence in the BTM group was not increased compared to the control group, it can be considered that there is no necessity for routine ATA and thyroid hormone testing in subjects with BTM.
Highlights
Beta Thalassemia Minor (BTM) is a chronic haemolytic anaemia appearing with hypochromic microcytic erythrocyte indexes and mild anaemia originating from impaired haemoglobin synthesis caused by a hereditary reduction in beta globin synthesis
Age and gender distribution were determined to be similar in the BTM group and the control group (Tables-I and II).The BTM group and the control group were comparable in respect of comorbidities and smoking status (Table-II)
BTM prevalence was found to be 1.5-fold higher than the control group, which was statistically significant for the first time, in a study of 146 rheumatoid arthritis patients by Marcolongo et al in 1975.13 In two studies by Montecucco, one retrospective and the other prospective, BTM prevalence was found to be increased in rheumatoid arthritis.[14]
Summary
Beta Thalassemia Minor (BTM) is a chronic haemolytic anaemia appearing with hypochromic microcytic erythrocyte indexes and mild anaemia originating from impaired haemoglobin synthesis caused by a hereditary reduction in beta globin synthesis. The highest BTM frequency is reported to be in Cyprus (14%), Sardinia (10.3%).[1] thalassemia major, which is caused by deficient or a complete absence of production in beta globin synthesis, presents with quite a serious disease status, there is a widespread understanding that subjects with BTM do not have a significant problem in general.[1,2] On the other hand, studies have reported that many diseases are seen more frequently in subjects with BTM than in people with no BTM.[3] The risk of birth defects, gestational diabetes, diabetes mellitus Type[2], renal diseases, decreasing pulmonary functions, osteoporosis, dental problems, depression and fibromyalgia is increased in BTM patients.[4,5,6,7,8,9,10] In addition, it has been suggested that BTM creates a tendency to autoimmune disorders.[2] The prevalence of BTM is significantly increased in rheumatoid arthritis; likewise, the incidence of rheumatoid arthritis is increased in BTM compared to the general population.[3] systemic
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