Frequency of thyroid autoimmunity and thyroid dysfunction in patients of chronic spontaneous urticaria in our population

Abstract

Objective To calculate the frequency of thyroid autoimmunity (TA) and thyroid dysfunction in patients of chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) in our population. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted in Dermatology outpatient department of Saifee Hospital Trust, Karachi for a period of twelve months. Clinically diagnosed, 55 cases of CSU of either gender, age ≥12 years, having urticaria for 6 months or more were included via non-probability consecutive sampling technique. Thyroid functions tests (TFT), thyroid autoantibodies (TAAbs) i.e. anti-thyroid peroxidase and anti-thyroglobulin antibodies, and antinuclear antibodies (ANA) were performed and results were recorded. Results In our study; the mean age was 32.7±12.8 years and mean duration of symptoms was 24.3±25.1 months. Out of 55 patients; 39 (70.9%) were female, 16 (29.1%) were male, and male to female ratio was 1:2.4. TA was present in 30 (54.5%) patients. 9 (16.4%) patients were ANA positive. TFT showed that 40 (72.7%), 10 (18.2%) and 5 (9.1%) patients were euthyroid, hypothyroid and hyperthyroid respectively. As compared to men, high percentage of women were found to be anti-thyroid peroxidase (P=0.005), anti-thyroglobulin (P=0.011), and ANA (P=0.046) positive. Patients having urticaria for longer duration were found to be TAAbs positive (P=0.014). Higher proportion of patients with TA diagnosed with hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. Anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody was more common but anti-thyroglobulin antibody was more associated with hypothyroidism (P=0.008). Conclusion The authors conclude that association between CSU and TA is statistically significant and a notable percentage of CSU patients have thyroid dysfunction. We recommend full TFT and TAAbs screening in all patients with CSU.