Thyroid sonomorphology, thyroid peroxidase antibodies and thyroid function: new epidemiological data in unselected German employees.
OBJECTIVE
Employees of Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH underwent thyroid screening in 2006 to assess new data about the prevalence of irregular sonomorphological pattern, elevated thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPO AB) and thyroid function in an unselected adult German population.
The examination included 700 unselected employees. Blood samples were analyzed for serum TSH and TPO AB, and ultrasound of the thyroid was performed.


RESULTS
In 40.7% of the participants (n = 285) an irregular sonomorphological pattern was detected: goiter in 13.7%, nodules in 35.6%, nodular goiter in 8.6% and a hypoechogenic pattern of the thyroid gland in 20.4%. Serum TSH was increased in 3.9% and decreased in 0.6%. Elevated TPO AB values were observed in 13%. Only 1.4% (n = 10) showed elevated TPO AB combined with a TSH increase. Sonomorphological abnormalities were associated with increased TPO AB in 7.1%. Elevated TPO AB was observed significantly more often in combination with sonomorphological pathology (54.9%) than without (45.1%) (p = 0.003).


CONCLUSIONS
Sonomorphological disorders are still very common in Germany and our results are comparable with previous screening examinations. Elevated TPO AB correlated significantly with the sonomorphological pattern of nodules and goiter. This may reflect an improved iodine supply or a hypertrophic stage of autoimmune thyroiditis in some cases.
Department of Nuclear Medicine, University of Frankfurt. n.doebert@gmx.de
N
N
Döbert
K
K
Balzer
J
J
Diener
K
K
Wegscheider
R
R
Vaupel
F
F
Grünwald
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006042:Goiter / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology; D006044:Goiter, Nodular / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000453:epidemiology; D007453:Iodide Peroxidase / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013960:Thyroid Function Tests; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013967:Thyroiditis, Autoimmune / Q000453:epidemiology; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood; D014463:Ultrasonography; D055815:Young Adult
D001323:Autoantibodies; D013972:Thyrotropin; D007453:Iodide Peroxidase