RATIONAL FOR HYPOTHYROIDISM SCREENING IN CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME PATIENTS WITHOUT DEFINITE PREDISPOSING FACTOR

Abstract

Background: Screening for hypothyroidism in carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) patients is of controversy. To determine the value of hypothyroidism screening in CTS patients without definite predisposing factor we designed this study. Materials and Methods: 220 normal female and 220 female with CTS were included. We excluded any patient with a definite predisposing factor for CTS such as trauma, being manual laborer, etc. Boston carpal tunnel questionnaire was filled for each CTS patient and all the patients went under electrodiagnostic study; and a blood sample was taken to measure TSH and T4 level. Results: The prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism was 38.2% among the CTS group, and 11.8% in control group. The level of TSH was above 10[Formula: see text]mU/L (cut off level for treatment) in 45.2% of subclinical hypothyroid patients with CTS and 11.5% of subclinical hypothyroid patients without CTS. In the subclinical hypothyroid patients with CTS there was a significant direct correlation between TSH values and the Boston questionnaire scoring (correlation coefficient with function score: 0.93 and with symptom score: 0.96) ([Formula: see text]). Conclusion: Regarding high prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism in CTS patients without definite predisposing factor and direct association of TSH level with symptom severity we recommend screening for hypothyroidism in these patients.