Autoimmune Endocrinopathies in the Type 1 Diabetic Patient: Prevalence and Clinical Characteristics Pages 10-16

F.Z. Kaidi, N.E. Haraj, S. El-Aziz and A. Chadli

Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolic Diseases Department, UHC Ibn Rochd, Casablanca, Neuroscience and Mental Health Laboratory, Morocco
Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Université Hassan II Casablanca, Morocco

DOI: https://doi.org/10.12970/2310-9971.2019.07.02

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Abstract: Type 1 diabetes may be associated with other autoimmune endocrinopathies that asserts its influence and impact on the quality of life of the patients. Often the clinical expression of these endocrinopathies is not clear and the circumstances of discovery do not specifically explain a systematic screening of these.
The purpose of this study was to assess the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of autoimmune thyroiditis and Addison’s disease influencing in type 1 diabetic patient.
Patients and Methods: We conducted a retrospective, analytical and descriptive study over an extended period of time; January 2009 till December 2017, including 300 type 1 diabetic patients, collected at our department, 238 had undergone a thyroid complete examination and 104 had adrenal complete examination. Statistical analysis was achieved by SPSS software version 22.0.0.
Findings: Autoimmune thyroiditis was present in 11.8% of type 1 diabetic patients and Addison disease was present in 8.6%, in the majority of cases the patient was a young woman. Weight loss, hypoglycemia, palpable thyroid and palpitation were the main signs motivating the exploration of thyroid function. Hypoglycemia, asthenia, weight loss and melanodermia were the main signs motivating the exploration of adrenal function. Diabetes preceded endocrinopathy in the majority of cases (51%), with a difference in age of 3 years 3 months.
Conclusion: Autoimmune thyroiditis is the endocrinopathy the most associated with T1D, occurring mainly in young women. However, the time and circumstances of discovery are variable, hence there is an important role of regular biological screening.

Keywords: Addison disease, Autoimmune thyroiditis, DT1, prevalence, clinical characteristics. Read more