Thyroid autoimmune disorders in patients with acromegaly

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Thyroidology
• Acromegaly Research

Background:

• Disorders of the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis are common in acromegaly.
• Thyroid enlargement (goiter) affects the majority of acromegaly patients.
• The prevalence of goiter and thyroid autoimmunity in acromegaly is not well-established.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of goiter and thyroid autoimmunity in acromegaly patients.
• To evaluate the association between thyroid disorders and acromegaly.
• To compare thyroid autoimmunity rates in acromegaly patients with a healthy control group.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective evaluation of 116 acromegaly patients.
• Measurement of serum TSH, total thyroxine, and anti-thyroid peroxidase (ATPO) antibodies.
• Thyroid ultrasound performed in 75 patients; ATPO antibodies measured in healthy controls.

Main Results:

• 25% of acromegaly patients had elevated thyroid antibodies, versus 10% in controls.
• Goiter detected in 36% of patients, more common in females (41%).
• Thyroid autoimmunity was present in 35% of patients with nodules and 44% with goiter.

Conclusions:

• Acromegaly patients exhibit a significantly higher prevalence of thyroid autoimmunity than the general population.
• Thyroid autoimmunity appears to be an additional factor in the development of thyroid disorders in acromegaly.
• Findings suggest a need for increased thyroid monitoring in acromegaly patients.