Patients with Prolactinomas are Predisposed to Autoimmune Hypothyroidism: Data from a Cross-sectional Retrospective Study in a Single Tertiary Centre
Issue: 4/2015
Author: Elenkova, Atanaska P., Vasilev, Vladimir V., Vandeva, Silvia Zh., Dimitrov, Hristo A., Tcharaktchiev, Dimitar D., Zacharieva, Sabina Z.
Clinical Centre of Endocrinology and Gerontology, Medical University, Sofia
Aim: Assessment of the prevalence of autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITD) among patients with prolactinomas.
Materials and methods: The medical files of 486 patients (430 females and 56 males) diagnosed and followed up at a single tertiary centre were analyzed in a retrospective cross-sectional design.
Results: AITD were found in 27,6% of all study participants (29,8% among females and 10,7% among males). Hyperthyroidism was found in 1,59% of all investigated subjects (1,72% among females). The prevalence of hypothyroidism was 13,3% in men (10% subclinical/ 3,3% overt) and 16,7% in women (12,5% subclinical/ 4,2% overt).
Conclusions: Based on these results we could suggest an increased risk for development of autoimmune hypothyroidism in subjects with prolactinomas. Immunomodulatory action of supraphysiologically increased prolactin may be a probable co-factor in the pathogenesis and the clinical course of AITD in genetically predisposed subjects with prolactinomas.
