Association between Thyroid Autoantibodies and Abnormal Thyroid Function and Structure of Thyroid Gland

Abstract

Introduction: Antithyroperoxidase antibody (TPOAb), antithyroid receptor antibody (TRAb) and antithyroglobulin antibody (TgAb) are common thyroid autoantibodies in patients with autoimmune thyroid disease. Studies have demonstrated that the serum presence of thyroid autoantibodies is correlated with the presence of lymphocytic infiltration and the severity of histological thyroiditis. However, one or more of these antibodies are frequently detected in the general population. Abnormalities in thyroid function and structure are common in the population. Aim of the study: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between thyroid autoantibodies and abnormalities in thyroid function and structure. Methods: This was a multi-center, cross-section, observational study and was conducted in the Department of Endocrinology of Ibn Sina Medical College Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh and Enam Medical College, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh during the period from September, 2022 to September, 2023. In our study we included 324 patients with thyroid dysfunction. The patients were selected consecutively attending tertiary care hospitals. The study participants provided demographic and clinical data. Thyroid function, thyroid ultrasonogram and serum concentration of TPOAb, TRAb, and TgAb were measured. Result: A total 324 patients were included in this study. Most of the study population were female (79%) and mean age were 37.0± 12.4 years. 58.6% belonged to the 21-40 age group. The mean BMI was found 22.0±4.5 kg/m2 in positive TRAb and 26.5±5.0 kg/m2 in negative TRAb. 229 (70.7%) were hypothyroid and 95 (29.3%) were hyperthyroid patients. Among the study population 211 (65.1%) patients were TPOAb, 112 (34.6%) were TgAb and 80 (24.7%) were TRAb positive. Among the TPOAb positive patients, 78.7% were hypothyroid and 21.3% were hyperthyroid. On the contrary, among the TRAb positive patients, 97.5% were hyperthyroid. Most (158) of the patients have normal ultrasonogram of thyroid. ..