[Is polycystic ovary syndrome associated with autoimmune thyroiditis?].

INTRODUCTION

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrinopathies in women of fertile age and lately there is a discussion about its possible association with autoimmune diseases. The aim of the study was to examine incidence of autoimmune thyreoiditis (AIT) in PCOS women.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

64 PCOS patients were enrolled and 68 healthy menstruating women served as controls. All subjects were examined for thyrotropin (TSH), free thyroxin (fT4) and the presence as well as titers of antithyroid antibodies aTG (anti-thyreoglobulin) and aTPO (anti-thyreoperoxidase).

RESULTS

There was no difference between PCOS and controls in average TSH levels (2.37 ± 1.46 mIU/l vs 2.37 ± 1.46 mIU/l) (p = 0.953), and fT4 levels (16.36 ± 5.34 pmol/l vs 16.49 ± 2.32 pmol/l) (p = 0.852). Autoantibodies titers were also non-significant aTG (53.09 ± 157.07 IU/ml vs 29.8 ± 100.77 IU/ml, p = 0.386) and aTPO (59.74 ± 149.03 IU/ml vs 45 ± 204.77 IU/ml, p = 0.805). However, PCOS women had significantly higher prevalence of aTPO (18.75 vs 7.35%, p = 0.045). On the other hand, the overall prevalence of AIT was similar in both groups.

CONCLUSION

Our results show PCOS patients have slightly but significantly higher positivity of aTPO antibodies but the prevalence of AIT was insignificant.