Background: Ferritin is an iron storage protein found in almost all of the body tissues. Serum ferritin levels also have been reported to be altered in patients with thyroid disease. Thus, changes in the serum concentrations of ferritin reflect thyroid function.
Objective: For the synthesis of thyroid hormones, thyroperoxidase requires iron. It has been suggested that there is an association between thyroid profile and ferritin levels, which is the storage protein for iron in the body. This study was undertaken to assess ferritin levels in hypothyroid patients.
Materials and Methods: Ferritin levels were estimated in 50 newly diagnosed patients of hypothyroidism using chemiluminescence technique (ADVIA Centaur CP). Total T3 and T4 levels were estimated using radioimmunoassay. Free T3, T4, and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels were estimated using chemiluminescence. These were then compared with age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Results were correlated statistically.
Results: Serum ferritin levels were found to be significantly reduced in patients with hypothyroidism compared to normal subjects (p < 0.001).
Conclusion: Hypothyroidism is associated with low serum ferritin levels. The estimation of serum ferritin may help in understanding the etiopathogenesis, diagnosis, and monitoring of hypothyroid patients.
Key words: Ferritin, hypothyroidism, thyroid
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