DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2019.v07i05.025

Pages: 1813-1815

Background: There have been several autoimmune disorders which are reported to coexist with other organ-specific autoantibodies. Aim: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the presence of anti-TPO antibodies in children of age group 5-18 years who have positive levels of tissue transglutaminase anti-TTG antibodies, which may indicate high risk for developing thyroiditis in future. Material & Method: Samples of 20 children who have been tested positive with anti-TTG antibodies were simultaneously tested for anti-TPO antibodies. Equal number of age and sex matched controls of samples that were tested negative for anti-TTG antibodies, acted as controls to form a case control study. The observed values were expressed as Mean ± SD. The significance of mean difference between patients and controls groups was compared by using Student’s t test and distribution of probability (p). Result: A total of 40 subjects (20 cases and 20 controls) were included in this study. Subclinical Hypothyroidism was present in 40 % cases compared to only 5% in controls (P<0.001). Anti-TPO antibodies were present in 20% subjects among cases compared to 5per cent (P=0.001) in controls, respectively. Levels of anti-TPO antibodies increased with increasing titre of anti-TTG antibody. Conclusion: The findings of present case control study showed high positivity of anti-TPO antibodies among subjects with positive anti TTG antibodies. It is, therefore, important to have high index of suspicion for autoimmune thyroiditis in patients with high suspicion of celiac disease found by positive anti- TTG antibodies in serum.