Thyroid function abnormalities in hepatitis C positive patients in a single center in Basrah

Abstract

Background: Hepatitis c virus (HCV) is global health problem it has many extrahepatic manifestations including hematologic, lymphoproliferative, endocrine, and renal diseases. The most common and important endocrine disorder are thyroid abnormalities.The aim of this study: Is to investigate the correlation between HCV infection and thyroid function abnormalities and the factors that may affect it.Patients and methods: This were a case-control study with 51 patients (27 males) were HCV positive who were attending Faiha Gastroenterology and Hepatology center and 49 HCV negative persons (34 males) from health workers and patients’ relatives represent control group. They were sent for thyroid function test in form of Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free tetraiodothyronine (FT4), total triiodothyronine (T3), anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody, thyroglobulin, and anti-thyroglobulin.Results: thyroid function abnormalities were found in eighteen patients (35.3%) of HCV positive group ,and nine (18.4%)in control group but the difference was not significant (p = 0.057), also there was no difference in thyroid antibodies prevalence between the two groups (p ˃ 0.05).The distribution of thyroid abnormalities in HCV patients was as follows: Four patients (7.8%) have hypothyroidism, Four (7.8%) have subclinical hypothyroidism, and Ten (19.7%) have weird thyroid function, while in control group: Four (8.2%) have subclinical hypothyroidism, Five(10.2%) have weird thyroid function and none have hyperthyroidism in both groups. Abnormal thyroid function was more in women with age group 30-40 years and was statistically significant.Conclusion: Thyroid abnormalities are more in HCV positive patients where hypothyroidism is the most frequent, they are more in women, and more in 30-40 years old.With the majority of hypothyroidism has autoimmune origin.