Oxidative Status in Children With Autoimmune Thyroiditis

Overview

Oxidative status in autoimmune thyroiditis was not investigated previously in children and adolescents. We investigated oxidant and antioxidant systems in a cohort of Egyptian children and adolescents with AIT to explore their relation with biomarkers of autoimmunity and thyroid function.

Methods: A case control study included 32 children with autoimmune thyroiditis and 32 healthy subjects with matching age and sex were included as a control group. Thorough history, examination, thyroid ultrasound, measurement of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and free thyroxine (FT4), as well as anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPOAb) and anti-thyroglobulin antibody (TgAb) were done in addition to assessment of malondialdehyde (MDA) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) levels as an oxidative stress markers. Results: Overt hypothyroidism was detected in 23/32 while subclinical hypothyroidism was detected in 9/32 of the studied patients. Malondialdehyde levels were significantly elevated while total antioxidant capacity levels were significantly decreased in autoimmune thyroiditis patients compared with healthy controls. The difference was more evident in patients with overt hypothyroidism than those with subclinical hypothyroidism. We also observed a significant positive correlation between anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies levels and age, TSH, malondialdehyde, thyroid volume and a negative correlation with total antioxidant capacity and thyroxine . Conclusions: The high serum malondialdehyde and lower total antioxidant capacity levels in patients with autoimmune thyroiditis and the correlation of thyroid antibodies with biomarkers of oxidative stress may reflect the role of autoimmunity in the development of oxidative stress. Future studies are needed for evaluation of the antioxidant therapy for autoimmune thyroiditis patients.

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