Priyadarshini Raju1, Shreyas Kumar V.2
BACKGROUND
Hypothyroidism is a common endocrine disorder which affects 11 % of the adult
population in western countries. Hypothyroidism can cause a wide variety of
anaemic disorders. Patients with both hypothyroidism and Vitamin B12 deficiency
also have similar symptoms. Thus, this study was conducted to evaluate the
relationship between the two and also hypothyroidism due to autoimmune cause.
METHODS
This was a descriptive study of 50 newly detected hypothyroid patients from
Rajarajeswari Medical College evaluated for vitamin B12 deficiency. The study was
conducted between January 10th 2019 to July 21st 2019. Lab parameters analysed
included haemoglobin, thyroid function test (TFT), vitamin B12 levels and antithyroid
peroxidase (anti-TPO) antibody levels.
RESULTS
Of the 50 hypothyroid patients evaluated, 23 were males and 27 were females
between the age of 18 to 70 years. Anti TPO antibodies were present in 24
patients (48 %) out of 50, out of which 17 (70 %) patients had vitamin B12
deficiency. Out of 50 hypothyroid patients, 26 patients (52 %) had vitamin B12
deficiency. Thus hypothyroidism and autoimmune thyroid disease was associated
with Vitamin B12 deficiency which was statistically significant.
CONCLUSIONS
Patients with hypothyroidism were studied for the incidence of deficiency of
vitamin B12. It was found that 26 of 50 (52 %) patients had low B 12 levels.
Incidence in females (54 %) was more than in males (46 %). Our study showed
association between hypothyroidism and vitamin B12 deficiency and also
autoimmune thyroid disease.
