Predictive risk factors for autoimmune thyroid diseases in patients with pernicious anemia

Abstract

BackgroundPatients with pernicious anemia (PA) have a higher prevalence of other autoimmune diseases. We assessed the correlation between PA and autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITD), and evaluated the risk factors for this association. MethodsA longitudinal study was conducted involving patients with PA between 2010 and 2017. ResultsA total of 86 patients with PA were evaluated, 74 (86%) female, with a median age of 51.5 years. Thyroid abnormalities were detected in 45 (52.3%) patients, including 28 (32.3%) hypothyroidism, 3 (3.5%) hyperthyroidism and 20 (23.3%) thyroperoxidase antibody positivity. Logistic regression analysis identified risk factors for having AITD in PA patients: weight loss (OR 12.03; 95% CI 1.06–137.02, P=0.045), diabetes mellitus (OR 4.68, 95% CI 1.15–26.58, P=0.047) and gastric antibodies positivity (OR 5.05, 95% CI 1.45–18.24, P=0.013). ConclusionPA and AITD are frequently associated, suggesting all patients with PA should be investigated for occult thyroid disease, especially those with weight loss, diabetes mellitus and gastric autoantibodies.