Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis-associated Thyroid Swelling among Adolescents Presenting with Benign Goiter in Lahore, Pakistan

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundThe aim of this study was to determine frequency of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT), by determination of serum TPO-Ab titer in goitrous adolescents attending Centre for Nuclear Medicine (CENUM), Mayo Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan.MethodSerum TPO-Ab was determined in 277 local goitrous adolescents (female 194, male 83) with euthyroidism or subclinical hypothyroidism. Their mean (±SD) age was 15.8 + ***2.5 years with age range 10 to 19 year. Female and male adolescents were comparable in age, goiter size and serum thyroid hormone levels.ResultsMean TSH and percentage of TSH levels > 3.0 mIU/L was significantly higher in male adolescents. High serum TPO-Ab titer (> 20.0 IU/ml) or HT was detected in 38 (13.7%) patients. The incidence of HT in female (16.5%) was higher than male adolescents (7.2%) but the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.120). Similarly goiter size (palpable or visible) or patient age (below or above 16 year) has no significant effect on HT frequency. However, compared to adolescents with TSH within normal laboratory range those with TSH level above the upper normal limit (4.0 mIU/L) had significantly more frequency of HT (10.4% versus 30.4%; p=0.001).ConclusionThus this study reports 13.7% prevalence of HT-associated goiter among local adolescents presenting with benign goiter, in Lahore Pakistan.