title: Thyroid dysfunction and thyroid autoimmunity in Saudi type 2 diabetics.
abstract: Diabetes mellitus and thyroid disease are common endocrine disorders in the general population. To investigate the association between thyroid dysfunction, thyroid autoimmunity and Saudi type 2 diabetics, a random sample of 100 Saudi type 2 diabetics and 100 age- and sex-matched controls were studied. The mean age was 54 years for diabetics and 55 years for controls while the male:female ratios were 1:1.6 and 1:14 respectively. GAD65ab were found in 26% diabetics and 2% controls (p=0.001). Thyroid autoimmunity were detected in 10% diabetics vs. 5% controls (p=0.05), while thyroid dysfunction was found in 16% and 7% respectively (p=0.03). In GAD65ab-positive diabetics, thyroid autoimmunity was observed in 27% vs. 4% GAD65ab-negative diabetics (p=0.02) and thyroid dysfunction was reported in 42% and 7% respectively. We conclude that thyroid dysfunction and autoimmunity are common in Saudi type 2 diabetics. Further studies are needed on the cost effectiveness of thyroid screening in diabetics.
authors.affiliation: King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. daadakb@yahoo.com
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Akbar
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Al-Mughales
mesh_terms: D015551:Autoimmunity; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000276:immunology*