ESPE Abstracts

Relationship between polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and thyroid autoimmunity has been recently suggested by several authors. Autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT) is the most prevalent autoimmune disease and link between AIT and PCOS has been reported in adult women. There is a hypothesis that functional autoantibodies could contribute to the development of PCOS. The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of thyroid autoimmunity in adolescent girls with PCOS. Forty five adolescent girls with diagnosis of PCOS (study group – SG) (chronological age: 16.9±1.3 year, age of menarche: 12.2±1.4 year, BMI: 25.4±7.9 kg/m²) and 31 regularly menstruating girls (chronological age: 17.0±1.9 year, age of menarche: 11.8±1.9 year, BMI: 24.5±7.0 kg/m²) (control group – CG) were recruited to the study. In all participants metabolic and hormonal tests were done and ultrasound of pelvis was performed. Thyroid function and morphology were evaluated by measurement of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine (fT₄), antiperoxidase antibodies (anti-TPO Ab), antithyreoglobulin antibodies (anti-Tg Ab) and ultrasound (US) of the thyroid gland. All the participants were euthyroid (TSH <5 mIU/ml), however in six (13%) girls from SG and in two (6.5%) form CG levothyroxine treatment was introduced by the family doctor before. The indices of thyroid autoimmunity (elevated anti-TPO Ab, anti-Tg Ab, hypoechogenic US pattern of thyroid) was detected in 10 (22.2%) girls form SG and in three (9.7%) from the CG. Anti-TPO Ab alone was elevated in eight (17.8%) girls from SG and two (6%) girls from CG, anti-Tg AB in three (6.7%) and one (3%) girls and hypoechogenic US pattern of thyroid in seven (15.6%) and two (6%) girls, respectively. No significant associations were found between antibodies, hormones level and volume and pattern of the ovaries. The study does not confirm the relationship between PCOS and thyroid autoimmunity in adolescent girls, however high prevalence of anti-TPO Ab and anti-TG Ab in euthyroid patients with PCOS may suggest that further monitoring of their thyroid function is warranted.