Prevalence of autoimmune thyroid disorders in a Spanish multiple sclerosis cohort

Authors: Munteis, E.¹; Cano, J. F.²; Flores, J. A.²; Martinez-Rodriguez, J. E.¹; Miret, M.²; Roquer, J.¹

Source: European Journal of Neurology, Volume 14, Number 9, September 2007 , pp. 1048-1052(5)

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Abstract:

The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of thyroid autoimmune disorders in a cohort of untreated multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and compare it with a stratified sample of an adult population. We prospectively studied 93 untreated MS patients. The control group included 401 healthy subjects selected by stratified sampling in a non-iodine-deficient area. Antithyroid antibodies (ATA) (antibodies against peroxidase and thyroglobulin) were considered positive at titres ≥149 IU/ml. Antibodies were positive in 11 MS patients (11.8%; 95% CI 5.3-18.4%). This prevalence was five times higher (P = 0.0001) when compared with that in the control population. We found six cases with subclinical hypothyroidism (6.45%; 95% CI 11.4-1.5) in contrast to 2.24% in the control group. Comparing MS with positive and negative ATA, there was a non-significant, slightly higher frequency of low Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score in the ATA-positive group (81% vs. 73.2%). One year after start of interferon (IFN) treatment, only one patient developed subclinical thyroid dysfunction. MS patients have a higher prevalence of ATA compared with the general population. An initial ATA and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) determination is recommended in all MS patients. A periodic assessment of thyroid function during IFN treatment only seems to be justified in those cases where positive ATA or dysfunction is present before treatment.

Keywords: multiple sclerosis; thyroid autoimmunity

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-1331.2007.01882.x

Affiliations: 1: Neurology Service 2: Endocrinology Service, Hospital Universitari del Mar, IMAS, Barcelona, Spain

Publication date: 2007-09-01

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• In this Subject: Neurology & Psychiatry ,  Public Health
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