Thyroid autoimmunity among type 2 diabetes mellitus: assessing anti-thyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO) antibodies

Introduction and Aim: Thyroid disorder, the most abundant endocrine disorder in the globe ranks second after diabetes mellitus. Because of immune resistance to thyroid gland, it leads to the development of hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. Autoantibodies against thyroid peroxidase (TPO) - a critical enzyme in the thyroid hormone biogenesis is responsible for thyroid autoimmunity and is increasingly found among type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). So, the present study was designed to assess the serum anti-TPO antibodies among type 2 diabetes mellitus in hospital setting. Materials and Methods: 100 clinically diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus was included with 50 age and sex matched apparently healthy controls in the age range 35-70 years. Mean age (in Years) of male and female T2DM cases had 57.40±5.93 and 55.96±7.39 respectively. Also, the male and female controls had mean age as 56.24±8.74 and 54.20±8.90 respectively. Results: The mean glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) value among T2DM male and female cases was found to be 8.53±2.02% and 8.66±1.90% respectively. The mean value of serum TSH was found to be highly significant statistically among T2DM as compared to healthy controls, whereas mean value of serum anti-TPO antibodies was significant statistically among T2DM as compared to healthy controls. The occurrence of anti-TPO antibodies among T2DM was found to be 13 out of 100 (13%) in the present study. Conclusion: The association between serum TSH and anti-TPO antibodies among T2DM patients was found to be highly significant statistically. Thus, the existence of higher anti-TPO antibodies among T2DM points out the future development of functional thyroid problem in such patients.