Prevalence of Anti-thyroid Peroxidase, and Anti-thyroglobulin in Sudanese Patients with Thyroid Diseases

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Clinical Chemistry, College of Medical Laboratory Science, Sudan University of Science & Technology, Khartoum, Sudan

2 Biotechnology Laboratory, School of Pharmacy, Ahfad University, Omdurman, Sudan

3 Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Medicine, Alribat University, Khartoum, Sudan

4 Faculty of Medicine, Africa University, Khartoum, Sudan

Abstract

Background: Autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) may be characterized by the measurement in serum of antibodies to thyroid peroxidase.  Thyroid antibody testing is not routinely available in developing countries, and few studies have measured thyroid antibodies among Arab or Africans. The significance of thyroid autoimmunity in an Arab setting is thus unclear.
Objective: The aim of this study is to measure the thyroid antibodies in patients with different thyroid pathologies, to assess its diagnostic value, especially in autoimmune thyroid disease.
Design: Prospective study
Method: We measured antibodies to thyroglobulin (TgAb) and thyroid peroxidase (TPOAb) using an ELISA technique in 208 patients with various thyroid pathologies attending Fedail clinic, and Khartoum teaching hospital in Khartoum, Sudan. Patients were grouped into five categories according to presentation, family history and laboratory investigation.
Results: TPOAb and TgAb were found in 5% and 10%, respectively, of healthy adult controls, in 66.7 % and 27.8% of patients with GD, in 100% and 66.7% of patients with Hashimoto, and in 15.5% and 12.3% of patients with non-autoimmune thyroid disease.
Conclusion: Thyroid autoimmunity is not common in these Sudanese patients, and TPOAb was significantly associated with auto-immune thyroid disease. The clinical utility of these antibody measurements requires further evaluation in a wider Sudanese, Arab, and African population

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