Study of uric acid levels in hypothyroid patients

Introduction: The thyroid gland produces two hormones, Thyroxin (T4) and Triiodothyronine (T3). These hormones play a critical role in cell differentiation during development and help maintain thermogenic and metabolic homeostasis in the adult. Hypothyroidism is a clinical condition in which the thyroid hormones production is below normal. It affects approximately 2% of the population. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted over a period of one year among subjects having hypothyroidism at Sri Siddhartha Medical College and Hospital, Tumkur, Karnataka. Ethics committee approval obtained prior to the study. Both female and male subjects were included in the study and all of them in the age group of 20-60 years. Patients (N = 120) who were diagnosed clinically and biochemically as hypothyroid for the first time who were attending OPD or admitted were enrolled for the study. 60 normal healthy individuals working in Sri Siddartha Medical College were included as control group. Results: Serum uric acid levels were significantly increased in hypothyroid subjects when compared to controls (p value = 0.0001). Conclusion: It is important to evaluate serum uric acid levels routinely in hypothyroidism patients, to correct the possible altered purine nucleotide metabolism and to prevent the onset of gout. It may also help to observe set in myopathic changes in advanced hypothyroidism.