A Study Of Thyroid Function AndThyroid Autoantibody In Patients With Multiple Sclerosis

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to determine whether there are differences in the prevalence of abnormal thyroid function and positive autoimmune thyroid antibody between Multiple Sclerosis(MS) or Clinical Isolated Syndrome(CIS) and normal subjects, and whether the presence of thyroid disease correlates with age, disability and disease course.MethodsWe retrospectively included relevant patients in acute stage of MS or CIS who were admitted in the department of neurology, the2nd Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine,50patients with MS and21patients with CIS are included. Healthy people are match by sex and gender by1:2from the international center for health maintenance in this hospital. T3, T4, fT3, fT4, TSH, TPOAb and TGAb of all the objects were tested, expanded disability status scale (EDSS) and disease course are recorded. All statistical analyses were performed using the Statistical Program for Social Sciences(SPSS)statistical software(version16.0). ResultsThe mean T3, fT3and TSH levels of MS group(1.36±0.40nmol/L,4.16±0.93pmol/L,1.47±1.38mIU/L) are lower than that of healthy control group(1.81±0.32nmol/L,4.8±0.58pmol/L,2.31±1.31mIU/L) with statistical significance(P<0.05). The mean T3, fT3and T4levels of CIS group(1.42±0.38nmol/L,4.21±1.07pmol/L,114.77±14.57nmol/L) are lower than that of healthy control group(1.76±0.27nmol/L,4.91±0.62pmol/L,102.80±15.29nmol/L) with statistical significance(P<0.05).9patients have positive ATA in MS group, which is statistically significant (P<0.05). As well,5patients have low TSH in MS group with statistical significance(P<0.05). For CIS patients,6patients have positive ATA which is statistically significant (P<0.05). MS and CIS patients with abnormal thyroid function and positive autoimmune thyroid antibody do not differ in sex, age, disease duration, EDSS, MRI lesions(P>0.05).ConclusionThere are co-occurrence of low T3syndrome, low TSH and positive TPOAb/TGAb, and CIS may also presented along with low T3syndrome and positive TPOAb/TGAb. MS and CIS patients with abnormal thyroid function and positive autoimmune thyroid antibody do not differ in sex, age, disease duration, EDSS, MRI lesions. We recommend patients with MS or CIS should be screened of thyroid function and autoimmune thyroid antibody, and monitored regularly.