THE PRESENCE OF ANTITHYROID ANTIBODIES IN EUTHYROID PATIENTS WITH UNEXPLAINED INFERTILITY AND TUBAL OBSTRUCTION

PROBLEM: The presence of antithyroid antibodies in euthyroid patients with unexplained infertility and tubal obstruction. METHOD: The presen ce of antithyroid autoantibodies (microsomal and thyroglobulin) was me asured in 40 patients with unexplained infertility, and 40 patients wi th tubal obstruction infertility, and compared to 40 healthy nulligrav idae. RESULTS: Eight patients (20%) in the unexplained infertility stu dy group, seven (17.5%) in the tubal obstruction group and two (5%) in the healthy nulligravida group, were positive for antithyroid autoant ibodies: five (12.5%) were positive for antimicrosomal antibodies, two (5%) were positive for antithyroglobulin antibodies, and one patient (2.5%) was positive for both. The tubal obstruction group comprised se ven (17.5%) patients positive for antithyroid autoantibodies: four (10 %) for antimicrosomal antibodies, two (5%) for antithyroglobulin antib odies, and one patient (2.5%) was positive for both. In the healthy nu lligravidae group only two patients (5%) were positive for antithyroid antibodies: one for antimicrosomal and one for antithyroglobulin. No significant differences were found in the presence of antithyroid anti bodies between patients with unexplained infertility and those with tu bal obstruction infertility. Both groups differed significantly from t he healthy controls with regard to the presence of antithyroid antibod ies (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Subclinical presence of antithyroid autoan tibodies is characteristic Of both unexplained and mechanical infertil ity, as opposed to healthy controls. Further investigation of larger g roups is needed to determine the prevalence of antithyroid antibodies in the unique population of infertile women.