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Clinical presentation of spontaneous primary hypothyroidism in adults

A I Al-Sultan1, E B Larbi, G Magbool

  • 1Departments of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, King Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia.

Annals of Saudi Medicine
|March 1, 1995
PubMed

Insights

This study on spontaneous primary hypothyroidism in Saudi Arabia found that symptoms like tiredness and cold intolerance are common. Early detection is possible with clinical findings, aiding physicians in diagnosing this thyroid condition.

Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology
  • Internal Medicine
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Spontaneous primary hypothyroidism is a significant endocrine disorder.
  • Understanding its prevalence and clinical presentation in specific populations is crucial for early diagnosis and management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze the clinical characteristics and prevalence of spontaneous primary hypothyroidism in adult patients at King Fahd Hospital of the University (KFHU), Al-Khobar.
  • To identify key symptoms and signs associated with low free thyroxine index (FT4I) in this patient cohort.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of 309 hypothyroidism cases, with detailed evaluation of 124 adult patients meeting inclusion criteria for spontaneous primary hypothyroidism.
  • Data collection included patient demographics, biochemical thyroid function tests (FT4I), and clinical manifestations.

Main Results:

  • The prevalence of undiagnosed primary hypothyroidism in Saudis was 5.2/1000 females and 0.94/1000 males.
  • Low FT4I was observed in 65% of patients and correlated with symptoms such as tiredness, cold intolerance, constipation, weight gain, menstrual disturbances, dry skin, hoarseness, and signs like coarse skin and delayed reflex relaxation.
  • Common presenting symptoms included tiredness (56%) and cold intolerance (38%), while signs included coarse skin (53%) and delayed reflex relaxation (32%).

Conclusions:

  • Clinical findings like tiredness, cold intolerance, and skin changes can aid physicians in the early detection of primary hypothyroidism.
  • Further population-based studies are recommended to gather more comprehensive data on hypothyroidism in Saudi Arabia.

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