[Thyroid autoimmunity in type I (insulin dependent) diabetes mellitus]

Abstract

225 diabetic children aged 4-18 years, were screened for antithyroid antibodies. 120 of them were determined at onset of diabetes mellitus. In the remaining patients, duration of diabetes ranged from 6 months to 8 years. The overall prevalence of thyroid antibodies was 14.19% (21/148), while positive titres were found in 10.39% (8/77), at onset. Chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis was diagnosed in 16 patients. No growth retardation was observed. Thyroxine therapy was started in all hypothyroid cases. We conclude that antithyroid antibodies screening in well indicated in diabetic children in view of their high prevalence and strong association with chronic thyroiditis.