Hemoglobin, iron, and vitamin B12 deficiencies and high blood homocysteine levels in patients with anti-thyroid autoantibodies
Journal
Journal of the Formosan Medical Association
Journal Volume
113
Journal Issue
3
Pages
155-160
Date Issued
2014
Author(s)
Abstract
Background/Purpose: Autoimmune thyroiditis can be diagnosed by measuring patients' serum levels of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), anti-thyroglobulin antibody (TGA), and anti-thyroid microsomal antibody (TMA). This study evaluated whether there were hematinic deficiencies, high blood homocysteine levels, and serum gastric parietal cell antibody (GPCA) positivity in patients with TGA or TMA. Methods: The blood hemoglobin (Hb), iron, vitamin B12, folic acid, homocysteine and TSH concentrations and the serum GPCA level in 190 TGA- or TMA-positive patients were measured and compared with the corresponding levels in 190 age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects. Results: We found that 31 (16.3%), 27 (14.2%), 12 (6.3%), and 2 (1.1%) TGA- or TMA-positive patients had deficiencies of Hb (Men. <. 13. g/dL, Women. <. 12. g/dL), iron (< 60. μg/dL), vitamin B12 (< 200. pg/mL), and folic acid (< 4. ng/mL), respectively. Moreover, 25 (13.2%) and 48 (25.3%) TGA- or TMA-positive patients had abnormally high blood homocysteine level and serum GPCA positivity, respectively. TGA- or TMA-positive patients had a significantly higher frequency of Hb (p<0.001), iron (p<0.001), or vitamin B12 deficiency (p=0.001), of abnormally elevated blood homocysteine level (p=0.001), or of serum GPCA positivity (p<0.001) than healthy control subjects. Of 190 TGA- or TMA-positive patients, 8 (4.2%) had lower serum TSH level (< 0.1. μIU/mL, suggestive of hyperthyroidism), 163 (85.8%) had serum TSH level within normal range (0.1-4.5. μIU/mL), and 19 (10%) had higher serum TSH level (>4.5. μIU/mL, suggestive of hypothyroidis). Conclusion: There are significant deficiencies of hemoglobin, iron, and vitamin B12, abnormally high blood homocysteine levels, and serum GPCA positivity in TGA- or TMA-positive patients. In addition, the majority (85.8%) of TGA- or TMA-positive patients had euthyroid and only a small portion (14.2%) of TGA- or TMA-positive patients had either hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism. ? 2012.
SDGs
Other Subjects
antithyroid microsomal antibody; cyanocobalamin; folic acid; hemoglobin; homocysteine; iron; microsome antibody; parietal cell antibody; thyroglobulin antibody; thyroid antibody; thyrotropin; unclassified drug; adult; aged; amino acid blood level; article; autoimmune thyroiditis; burning sensation; controlled study; cyanocobalamin deficiency; female; folic acid blood level; folic acid deficiency; hemoglobin blood level; hemoglobin determination; human; iron blood level; iron deficiency; lingual varicosity; major clinical study; male; middle aged; paresthesia; taste disorder; thrush; thyrotropin blood level; varicosis; very elderly; vitamin blood level; xerostomia; anti-thyroglobulin antibody; anti-thyroid microsomal antibody; hemoglobin; homocysteine; iron; vitamin B12; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Autoantibodies; Biological Markers; Case-Control Studies; Female; Folic Acid; Folic Acid Deficiency; Hemoglobins; Homocysteine; Humans; Hyperthyroidism; Hypothyroidism; Iron; Male; Middle Aged; Parietal Cells, Gastric; Thyroiditis, Autoimmune; Vitamin B 12; Vitamin B 12 Deficiency
Publisher
Elsevier Ltd
Type
journal article