Prevalence of hypothyroidism among patients with multiple sclerosis referred to multiple sclerosis clinic of Alzahra hospital, Isfahan, Iran, during 2014-2015

Abstract

Background: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Hypothyroidism are the two most common diseases in community and their co-morbidity were reported by some of studies and based on a hypothesis there is a relationship between MS and hypothyroidism. So the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence rate of hypothyroidism among patients with MS. Methods: In this cross sectional study, all patients with MS who referred to MS clinic of Alzahra hospital, Isfahan, Iran, were examined for thyroid hormones and prevalence of hypothyroidism was determined. Findings: In this study 726 patients with MS were studied and 2 patients suffered from hyper-thyroidism and were excluded. Of 724 patients with MS, 586 (70.9) were female and 138 (19.1) were male. The number of patients with hypothyroidism were 50 and prevalence of the hypothyroidism was 6.9. Conclusion: Prevalence of hypothyroidism in patients with MS is higher than the general population (6.9 VS 2). Thus, all patients with MS must be studied for thyroid disorders. Also more study must be done to determine of the relation between MS and hypothyroidism. © 2016, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences(IUMS). All rights reserved.