The prevalence of Antithyroglobulin and Antithyroid Microsomal Autoantibodies in Euthyroid Fertile and Infertile Nigerian Women with recurrent spontaneous Abortion and Unexplained Infertility

Abstract

Plasma levels of antithyroglobulin {TG} and microsomal thyroid peroxidase {TPO} autoantibodies were determined using the ELISA methods, in 87 euthyroid women. These were made up of 44 control women which included 8{18%} nulligravidae, 18{41%} non pregnant multiparous and 18{41%}, pregnant subjects. The infertile groups were made up of 43 women which included 18{42%} with secondary infertility, 17{39%} recurrent spontaneous aborters {RSA} and 8{19%} unexplained {Primary} infertility subjects. The microsomal antithyroid peroxidase and the anti-thyroglobulin auto-antibodies, micro titer mean values, in the infertility subjects were 347.55 units/ml and 35.23 units/ml respectively. These values were higher compared with the micro titer mean values of the control subjects with 284.40 units/ml and 32.51 units/ml respectively. The Micro titer mean value levels of the microsomal antithyroid peroxidase auto-antibodies in the primary infertility group was 437.19 units/ml and in the secondary infertility group was 362.50 units/ml compared with the micro titer mean value of control groups of 284.40 units/ml at P<0.005, were significant. Likewise the micro titer mean value of the antithyroglobulin auto antibodies level in the primary infertility group which was 36.26 units/ml and in the secondary infertility group was 33.20 units/ml compared to the micro titer mean value of control groups value of 32.51 units/ml at P<0.05 were significant. The result showed that there is a high prevalence of antithyroglobulin and antithyroid microsomal autoantibodies in the infertile subjects. These antibodies could probably play active roles in infertility problems in women.


KEY WORDS: Autoimmunity, Reproduction, Infertility, Thyroid antibodies.


Nigerian Journal of Health and Biomedical Sciences Vol.3(2) 2004: 96-99