Thyroid Disorders in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

Abstract

Background: The rate of thyroid disorders is reported to be increased in patients with Ulcerative Colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD) than the normal population. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the prevalance of Thyroid disorders in a group of patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Material and Methods: 146 IBD patients (113 UC and 33 CD patients) and 66 healthy control subjects were enrolled into the study. Serum free T4 (FT4), free T3 (FT3), TSH and anti TPO levels of the patients were analyzed retrospectively and and compared with a control group. These cases were also investigated with thyroid ultrasound and nuclear (scintigraphy) imaging. Results: The mean age of IBD patients (76 women) was 42.9 ± 12.4 years. Among the control group 42 were female and their mean age was 40.9 ± 12.1 years. Thyroid gland disease was found in 14 (9.5%, 8 female, 6 male) of 146 IBD patients. The frequency of thyroid disorders has been found to be higher than the control group in patients with control group (14/146 vs. 1/66, p = 0.042). No statistically significant difference has been observed at the thyroid disorder rates between the UC and CD patients (11/113 vs. 3/33, p = 0.912). Hashimoto thyroiditis has been found at 4 (2.7%) of the IBD patients. Conclusion: In accordance with several works published in literature, we have found a higher rate of thyroid disease apperance at IBD patients

Thyroid disorders and gastrointestinal and liver dysfunction: A state of the art review

“…Thyroid disease has been reported in 10% of patients with inflammatory bowel disease compared to 2% in healthy controls; this was despite no significant difference in the mean free T3, free T4, and TSH levels [45]. There was no statistical difference in the prevalence of thyroid disease between patients with ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease [45]. However, not all studies are in agreement with this association; in a large population-based study that included 8,072 patients with inflammatory bowel disease, the prevalence of thyroid disease was similar to that of controls [46].…”

“…Thyroid disease has been reported in 10% of patients with inflammatory bowel disease compared to 2% in healthy controls; this was despite no significant difference in the mean free T3, free T4, and TSH levels [45]. There was no statistical difference in the prevalence of thyroid disease between patients with ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease [45].…”

Concomitant Thyroid Disorders and Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Literature Review

“…Some studies reported that there were no significant differences in thyroid function test (serum levels of fT3, fT4, and TSH) between CD patients and controls [ 24 , 51 ]. In a study by Snook et al [ 15 ], the prevalence of hyper- and hypothyroidism in CD patients was 0.3% and 0.5%, respectively.…”

“…In the same study, the prevalence of hyper- and hypothyroidism in the control group was 0.7% for both [ 15 ]. Yakut et al [ 24 ] reported that the prevalence of both hyper- and hypothyroidism in patients with CD as well as for both control groups was 0% (0/33) and 0% (0/66), respectively. Liu et al [ 19 ] reported that the prevalence of hyper- and hypothyroidism in patients with CD was 0% (0/44) and 2.3% (1/44), respectively.…”

Case Report: A Rare Presentation of Crohn’s Disease and Thyroid Dyscrasias in A 51-Year-Old Female

“…This association is better described in patients with ulcerative colitis and hyperthyroidism [1]. Other reports suggest an association between thyroid dyscrasias, such as hyperthyroidism and Crohn's disease [2][3][4].…”