Thyroid Function and Antithyroid Antibodies in Vitiligo: A Case Control Study

Abstract

Background: Vitiligo is a skin disease charachterized with loss of skin pigmentation and the lack of melanocytes in the epidermis.Its prevalence is estimated as 1-2% of the world population. The cause of this disease is not clear, but the immunologic etiology is strongly suggested due to coincidence of other autoimmune diseases such as thyroid disorders. Thyroid screening tests are not considered as routine tests for vitiligo patients. This study was designed to further study of thyroid function in vitiligo patients. Methods: 63 patients with vitiligo and 63 non-vitiligo from the patients referred to DrShariati Hospital and Skin Disease and Leishmaniasis Research Center (SDLRC) were studied. Thyroid function tests including TSH, T3, T4, and thyroid antibodies (anti TPO and anti Tg) were investigated. Data was analyzed by Chi square and Fisher’s exact test using SPSS18. Findings: Frequency of TSH, T4 in both groups were examined and no significant difference between the two groups did not exist (P = 0.09 and P = 0.11). In terms of distribution of T3, Anti-TPO and Anti-Tg between the two groups, significant differences between There were two groups (P= 0.001, P = 0.04 and P = 0.07 respectively). Conclusion: Based n the results of this study there was no correlation between vitiligo and clinical disorders of thyroid. However doing T3, AntiTPO, AntiTg tests is warranted in vitilgo patients for advance diagnosis of any thrroiddisfunction and prevemt their complications.

Keywords

• Vitiligo
• Thyroid function tests
• Antithyroid antibodies