Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and subclinical hypothyroidism: an underestimated comorbidity

Background Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is the most damaging and mysterious form of lung fibrogenesis, with worldwide growing prevalence and mortality. Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) is evidenced that its prevalence is still higher in patients with IPF. Objectives To study the incidence of SCH in patients with IPF in comparison with the controls with a focus on the different clinical characteristics and spirometry measurements. Patients and methods The research involved 50 patients who were diagnosed as IPF and 30 healthy participants, enrolled from the outpatient clinic departments of pulmonary medicine of October 6 University Hospital. The patients performed spirometry tests, high-resolution computed tomography chest, and thyroid function test. Results There were significant differences in spirometry data and thyroid-stimulating hormone level between the IPF and the control group, indicating more prevalence of SCH in IPF patients. IPF patients diagnosed with SCH have a significant decline in some spirometry measurements than those with IPF only. Conclusion The prevalence and clinical outcomes of SCH in patients with IPF certainly require advanced research, since the thyroid function tests were not done regularly for most patients with IPF. This study intensely proposes that in future encouraging management should be further studied to enhance the prognosis of IPF patients.

Abstract licence: CC BY-NC-SA

A person counts once a day per paper. We keep no cookie and no address: a reader is a hash that changes every day. Any month under five reads shows no number.