Thyroid dysfunction and autoantibodies among patients infected with Covid 19 in Erbil city /IRAQ

Background and objectives: Autoimmune thyroid diseases or specifically Anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies increasing after corona virus infection pandemic. This study investigating Anti-thyroperoxidase, anti-thyroid stimulating receptor antibodies in conjunction with traditional thyroid markers after corona virus infection hoping that this would aid in reduction of enduring morbidity and associated health concerns. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Rizgary Teaching Hospital and Erbil Teaching Hospital in Erbil, Iraq, within the period of February to September 2022. The study comprised hundred patients; 80 females and 20 males, these patients had clinical symptoms suspecting thyroid abnormalities and were suspected for having a sort of thyroid disease. They had abnormal thyroid function tests, with investigating thyroid autoantibodies and corona virus infection. Investigations include thyroid function test and antithyroid antibodies. Results: The level of Anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies was positive among 75 hypothyroidism patients than among hyperthyroidism cases 2, p-value 0.012. Positive Anti-thyroperoxidase antibodies and hypothyroidism were significantly more common among corona virus infected cases, p-value 0.012 and 0.0109 respectively. However; anti-thyroid stimulating hormone receptor antibody was positive only among hyperthyroidism group (18%); p-value was significant 0.019. Conclusions: This study confirmed the correlation between thyroid function test, Anti-thyroperoxidase antibodies values and corona virus infection. Autoimmune thyroid diseases are more common among female cases, in addition; antithyroid antibodies especially Anti-thyroperoxidase antibodies were more common among female patients. There was high prevalence of both hypothyroidism and positive anti-TPO Ab in COVID-19 cases.