EVALUATION OF PERIPHERAL NERVE CONDUCTION IN HYPOTHYROID SUBJECTS - A CASE CONTROL STUDY

AIM OBJECTIVE To evaluate peripheral nerve conduction of motor and sensory components of Median nerve in hypothyroid individuals. MATERIALS AND METHODS Institutional ethical committee approval was obtained. 30 neurologically asymptomatic hypothyroid individuals of age group 18-40 years from Endocrinology O.P.D., Government Stanley Medical College, Chennai and 30 age matched controls from Master Health Check up O.P.D. Government Stanley Medical College, Chennai were included in the study. After obtaining informed written consent, detailed history taking and clinical examination, the study group was subjected to nerve conduction study in the neurophysiology lab, Department of Physiology, Government Stanley Medical College, Chennai. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS The data was analyzed with SPSS 16.0 version. The means of variables were compared using independent t-test. RESULTS There was a significant delay in latency and decrease in amplitude in both the sensory and motor component of median nerve (p0.05). Highly significant decrease in conduction velocity with minimal difference in the sensory and motor component of median nerve (p0.05) has been observed. CONCLUSION Significant variations were found in all the nerve conduction parameters when compared to normal individuals which reveals the presence of subclinical neuropathy in hypothyroid individuals.