Aamir Ijaz, Munnawar Hussain Marri, Ayaz Hussain Qureshi, Muhammad Ashraf Qamar, Nadir Ali.
Pattern of Subclinical Thyroid Disease.
J Coll Physicians Surg Pak Jan ;12(2):86-8.

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of subclinical thyroid disease (SCTD) in local population visiting a hospital laboratory for thyroid function tests. Design: It was a hospital - based study carried in consecutive patients who reported for thyroid function tests in the hospital laboratory. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in Combined Military Hospital, Quetta during June 1999 to September 2000. Subjects and Methods: Serum samples of 917 patients living in Quetta and its surrounding were analysed for thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine (FT4), and total tri-iodothyronine (T3) concentration using chemiluminescence technique on hormone autoanalyser (LIA-Mat - Sangtech Germany). Results: Out of 917 patients, 287 (23%) were found to be having SCTD while overt thyroid disease was found in 288 (31 %) patients. Prevalence of sub-clinical hypothyroidism (SCO) and sub-clinical hyperthyroidism (SCE) was found to be almost equal with a profound female preponderance in both the groups. SCO was more common in children (<12 years of age). Conclusion: Almost every fourth patient reporting for thyroid function tests was diagnosed as having SCTD - a disease entity that is still not well known and that poses diagnostic and management problems for the pathologists and clinicians.

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