Association of iron deficiency with serum thyroid indices

Abstract

Objective: The aim of study is to determine the association of iron deficiency on thyroid hormone status in adult female group.

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Pathology, Quaid-i-Azam Medical College, Bahawalpur, Pakistan.

Material and Methods: In this hospital base study in which hundred iron deficient female were selected from 2038 government employees who visited the hospital for routine medical investigation. They showed hemoglobin and mean corpuscular volume within normal range but serum ferritin level was low. They were compared with subjects showing normal serum ferritin. Concentrations of TSH, fT4, fT3, rT3 and urinary iodine were calculated in both groups.

Result: Statistical analysis revealed significant decrease in TSH, rT3 and increase in fT4 concentration between two groups Serum ferritin showed significant negative correlation with TSH ( r=-0.78 ) and rT3(r=-0.71 )while there was positive correlation with fT4  (r=-0.79 )

Conclusions: Iron deficient females with low ferritin were associated with high TSH level which might progress to overt hypothyroid if not treated timely.

Keywords: Female, Iron deficiency anemia, Ferritin, Thyroid indices, Correlation, Hypothyroid.