THYROID VOLUME IN TYPE-1 DIABETES PATIENTS WITHOUT OVERT THYROID-DISEASE

An association between insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (type 1) an d thyroid diseases has long been reported, but the morphological evalu ation of the thyroid in type 1 diabetes patients without overt thyroid disease has always been limited to physical examination, Ultrasonogra phy of the thyroid gland was performed in 45 patients with type 1 diab etes without overt thyroid disease, to study thyroid volume and the pr evalence of thyroid nodules, Data were compared with those obtained in 45 age- and sex-matched control subjects residing in the same area. I n the patients, thyroid volume had increased on average by 46%; 35% of male and 32% of female patients had a thyroid volume exceeding the 95 % confidence limits of the matched controls. The prevalence of thyroid nodules was only slightly raised, On average, free thyroxine was incr eased in the presence of normal triiodothyronine levels. Four patients were frankly hyperthyroid. The patients also showed a higher prevalen ce of thyroid-microsomal antibodies, but the thyroid hormone status wa s not different in relation to thyroid volume, nor was thyroid volume in relation to the presence of autoantibodies. Patients with type 1 di abetes without overt thyroid disorders may have morphological, ultraso nographically detectable alterations of the thyroid gland, the express ion of a possible involvement of the thyroid in an autoimmune disorder not limited to the islet cells.