D. Simm, E.Birnie, D. Mul, H.J. Veeze, H.J. Aanstoot.

Thyroid peroxidase autoimmunity and the effect on thyroid function in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes. Presented at: 8th International Conference on Advanced Technologies and Treatments for Diabetes, 18-21 February 2015, Paris. Abstract: #376.

In this study, Diabeter researchers assessed the prevalence of thyroid peroxidase autoimmunity (known to be associated with type 1 diabetes, although reported rates have varied from study to study) in a total of 1,553 patients younger than 25 years who were tested at the centre between 1993 and 2014.

 

A total of 4,591 measurements of antibody to thyroid peroxidase (ATPO) were made in that period, in 2,270 males (median age 14.1 years) and 2,321 females (median age 14.7 years). An ATPO value of 60 U/mL or higher was considered to be significantly elevated, as was a thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) level above 4.4 mU/L.

 

Key findings:

• Overall, 13.3% of patients (207, or just over 1 in 8) had at least one significantly elevated ATPO level.
• Female patients were 2.4 times more likely than men to have an elevated ATPO level (18.7% versus 7.8% of patients, respectively). ATPO values were also significantly higher in female patients than in male patients (227 U/mL versus 190 U/mL, respectively; p<0.001).
• Older age and longer duration of diabetes, as well as female gender, were also associated with elevated ATPO.
• Among the patients with at least one elevated ATPO level, 23 male patients (38.3%) and 45 female patients (30.6%) were diagnosed with hypothyroidism requiring medication.

 

Concluding, the researchers advocated 

For abstract click here (page A-162).
For poster click here.