Thyroid functional status in leprosy patients in Sudan

Abstract

We studied 45 adult patients with untreated lepromatous leprosy and borderline leprosy, presenting at clinics in Khartoum and Omdurman, to assess clinical and biochemical effects of the disease on thyroid function. A matching control group of 30 subjects, without symptoms or signs of thyroid disease, were included for comparison. Thyroxine, triiodothyronine and thyrotrophin levels were within normal range. Mean serum thyroxine was low in both groups (significant in lepromatous leprosy patients only). Mean serum triiodothyronine was high in both groups (significant in neither group). Mean thyrotrophin was significantly higher in both groups compared with controls.