Prevalence of anti-thyroid antibodies in patients with primary thyroid disorders.
OBJECTIVE
To determine prevalence of thyroid antimicrosomal and antithyroglobulin antibodies among patients with primary thyroid disorders.


METHODS
Descriptive cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Kenyatta National Hospital, July 2003 to August 2004.


RESULTS
Antimicrosomal antibodies (anti-TPOAbs) were detected in 51.4% of all the patients while 36.1% tested positive for the antithyroglobulin antibodies (anti- TgAbs). Among the hyperthyroid patients, anti-TPOAbs and anti-TgAbs were in 50.8% and 33% respectively while 53.3% and 46.7% of the hypothyroid patients tested positive for anti-TPOAbs and anti-TgAbs respectively. Most of the patients who showed positivity for anti-TgAbs (88.5%) also tested positive for anti-TPOAbs.


CONCLUSIONS
More than half of the patients with primary thyroid disorders show presence of autoimmune thyroid markers, with anti TPO antibodies being more prevalent.
Kuria
J G
JG
Department of Human Pathology, College of Health Sciences, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 19676-00202, Nairobi, Kenya.
Amayo
A
A
D000328:Adult; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006980:Hyperthyroidism / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D007630:Kenya / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008861:Microsomes / Q000276:immunology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000276:immunology*; D055815:Young Adult
D001323:Autoantibodies; C006606:anti-thyroglobulin