AUTOIMMUNE THYROIDITIS IN TYPE 1 DIABETES MELLITUS

Abstract

A variety of thyroid abnormalities may co-exist and interact with diabetes mellitus (DM). Autoimmune thyroid diseases are frequent in patients with type I diabetes mellitus. Aim: In this study we aimed to compare the frequency of thyroid antibodies among diabetic patients with type 1 and type 2 (DM). Material and methods: Fifty diagnosed type-1 DM patients were classified into two groups each consists of 25 subjects of early adulthood (18 to 35 yrs) and later adulthood (after35 yrs). Twenty-five age matched subjects with later adult hood DM type II are taken as controls. All the subjects had no history of previous thyroid diseases. Informed consent was obtained from all the subjects. The separated serum is used to estimate serum Free T3 and Free T4 and TSH using automated analyzer (Elecsys 2010 platform, Roche Diagnostics GmbH) according to instruction of the manufacturer. Thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPO-Ab) and Thyroglobulin antibodies (TG-Ab) were determined according to the manufacturer instruction by the supplier (DRG, Germany). Results: The serum levels of FT4 and TSH in early and late adulthood type 1 DM were not statistically different than that of later adulthood Type II diabetic patients. But the serum FT3 levels were found to be lower in type-1 diabetics patients as compared to type II DM. In addition there was a slightly increase in the values of anti-TPO and anti-TG antibodies in later adult hood of type I DM when compared to the values of early adult hood of type I DM. And there was significant increase in the values of anti-TPO and anti-TG antibodies in later adulthood of type I DM when compare to the values of later adulthood of type II DM Conclusion :Estimation of thyroid antibodies should be done periodically for very diabetic patients and subjects with positive antibodies should be monitored for TSH elevation at yearly intervals with the goal of early detection to prevent the possible adverse effects.