EVALUATION OF SERUM URIC ACID LEVELS IN PATIENTS WITH PRIMARY THYROID DYSFUNCTION

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the levels of serum uric acid in the patients with primary thyroid dysfunction METHODS: This cross-sectional study was carried out at Military Hospital (MH) Rawalpindi, Pakistan from July-December 2014 after obtaining the ethical and institutional permission. A total of sixty patients of both genders and newly diagnosed with primary thyroid dysfunction were recruited. Informed written consent was obtained from each participant. Patients were categorized in primary hyperthyroid (serum TSH 0.40 mIU/L and elevated fT ) and primary 4 hypothyroid (serum TSH 4.50 mIU/L and reduced fT ) groups. Serum uric acid levels of both groups were estimated and levels 420 μmol/L in males and 360 μmol/L in females were labeled as hyperuricemia. Results were entered and analyzed through SPSS version 21. RESULTS: Out of sixty participants, 21 (35%) patients were male while 39 (65%) patients were females and mean age was 42.31±11.27 years. Primary hypothyroidism group consisted of 43 (71.7%) patients while 17 (28.3%) patients were in primary hyperthyroidism group. Elevated serum uric acid levels were present in 65% patients (n=39). In the patients with hypothyroidism, 31 out of 43 (72%) patients were diagnosed with hyperuricemia while the corresponding numbers in hyperthyroid group were 8 out of 17 (47%). However, difference among mean Serum uric acid levels of both groups was insignificant (385.27±182 μmol/L and 316.95±169 μmol/L, p 0.01). CONCLUSION: Patients with primary thyroid dysfunction have elevated serum uric acid levels that are more frequent in primary hypothyroidism as compared to primary hyperthyroidism.