Publication:

Prevalence of thyroid abnormalities in HIV/AIDS persons and correlation with CD4 count, HAART drug and duration of illness

Background Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is characterized by decrease in CD4 cell count and immunodeficiency, leading to opportunistic infections (OIs) and tumors.  Objective of this study was to find out any association between thyroid function abnormality and CD4 count, duration of disease and ART drugs.

Methods Among 300 HIV/AIDS Persons attending ART centre, M.Y. Hospital, or attending general OPD, or admitted as in patients Dept. of Medicine, MGM Medical College and M.Y. Hospital, Indore, India.

Results Amongst 300 HIV patients,62 (20.66%) had thyroid dysfunction, most common being subclinical hypothyroidism (24/300, 8.0%) followed by sick euthyroid (17/300, 5.6%) and subclinical hyperthyroidism (13/300, 4.3%). Overt hypothyroidism was present in 5 of 300 (1.66%) patients and overt hyperthyroidism was present in 3 of 300 (1.0%) patients.  25 of 152 (16.44%) and 37 of 148 (25%) male and female HIV patients had thyroid function abnormality. Thyroid dysfunction was significantly more observed in old HIV patients (42/150, 28.0%) than in newly diagnosed HIV patient’s group (20/150, 13.33%).

Conclusions This prevalence being fairly high, it can be suggested that all retro positive patients, recently diagnosed and on treatment also may be subjected for routine thyroid function testing.