Evaluation of thyroid hormone profile in patients with suspected thyroid dysfunction in Basrah

Abstract EN

One thousand and seven patients (277 males and 730 females) with suspected thyroid dysfunction were studied for changes in serum levels of thyroxine (T4), tri-iodothyronine (T3) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH).

Among males, Thyroid hormone tests revealed that 89 (32.1%) patients were hyperthyroid, 42 (15.2%) were hypothyroid and 146 (52.7%) were euthyroid.

The comparative figures for females were 197 (27.0%), 108 (14.8%) and 425 (58.2%) respectively.

Thyroid hormone tests confirmed the initial clinical diagnosis in 436 (43.3%) patients, where in only 47.3% of male and 41.8% of female patients, the initial diagnosis was confirmed by hormonal tests.

Among hyperthyroid male patients, 58 (62.5%) showed conventional thyrotoxicosis (increased both serum T4 * and T3 levels), 17 (19.1%) presented with T4 toxicosis, and 14 (15.7%) with T3 toxicosis.

Comparatively, the figures in females were 144 (73.1%),41 (20.8%) and 12 (6.1%) respectively.

The study focused a light on the importance of the correlation of thyroid hormone changes with the clinical picture, and also, on the essential role of TSH assay in the diagnosis of thyroid diseases.