Graves’ disease and thyroiditis can be differentiated using only free thyroid hormone levels

Authors : Hilmi Erdem SÜMBÜL, Fettah ACIBUCU

Pages : 314-318

Doi:10.18621/eurj.499174

View : 15 | Download : 23

Publication Date : 2020-07-04

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Objectives: As the treatment approaches of Graves’ disease and thyroiditis are different, differential diagnosis is important. In this study, we analyzed whether it is possible to perform a differential diagnosis for these two conditions by checking the increase ratio of free thyroid hormones. Methods: In total 156 patients were taken into this study of which 29 were thyroiditis insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(17 had subacute thyroiditis, 6 had post-partum and 6 had silent thyroiditis); and 127 were Graves patients. The age, free T3 insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(FT3);, free T4 insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(FT4);, thyroid stimulating hormone insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(TSH); levels, FT3 index insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(FT3/FT3 upper limit of normal insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(ULN););, FT4 index insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(FT4/FT4 ULN); and free thyroid hormone index insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(FTHI); insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(FT3 index/FT4 index); of all patients were determined. Results: A significant difference was found between the mean TSH, FT3 and FT3 index between Graves’ disease and thyroiditis insert ignore into journalissuearticles values( p = 0.036, p = 0.001 and   p =0.001, respectively);. When the groups were compared in terms of FTHI, the difference was found statistically significant insert ignore into journalissuearticles values( p = 0.001);. FTHI was above 1 in all patients with Graves’ disease whereas it was found below 1 in all patients with thyroiditis. There were no statistically significant difference between the Graves’ disease and the thyroiditis in terms of age, FT4 and FT4 index insert ignore into journalissuearticles values( p = 0.748, p = 0.389 and p = 0.392, respectively);. Conclusion: Based on these results, considering the increases in free thyroid hormone values we can say that it is possible to perform a differential diagnosis of Graves’ disease and thyroiditis, and that this may be used as a practical method to differentiate these two conditions. 
Keywords : Graves disease, thyroiditis, free thyroid hormone index