Journal of Applied Science Studies - Ozean Publications

Ozean Journal of Applied Sciences 1(1), 2008
andmalignant thyroid cancer revealed significant increase in males, while bad nutrition and goiter were
significantly increased in females.
Results obtained in this study showed different causes of thyroid disorders. Griffith (2007) reported
that conditions such as bad nutrition and poorly –controlled diabetes are among causes of thyroid
diseases. Memonab et al. (2003) reported that family history of benign thyroid disease is associated
with an increase risk of thyroid cancer and he pointed to the role of familial susceptibility to thyroid
cancer in Kuwait population. Congenital hypothyroidism inceased significantly in males (14.8 %) than
in females (9.8%). -Hypothyroidism results from deficient production of the thyroid hormone or
defects in thyroid hormone receptor activity. The disorder may be acquired or congenital mani-fested at
birth or delayed as a result of a variety of congenital defects.Congenital causes of hypothyroidism may
be sporadic or familial, goitrous or nongoitrous (Ordookhani et al., 2005).
The incidence of malignant thyroid was 7.4 % and 9.2 % in hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism,
respectively. It was reported that incidence of malignant thyroid varies from one geographical area to
the other. Abu-Eshy (1994) recorded 13% in Asir ,Naser (1983) reported 14.5% in Jeddah and Al-
Temeem (1987) observed an incidence of 21% in Riyadh. There are different causal factors of
malignant thyroid such as prolonged high level of TSH and iodine deficiency (Belfiore et al.1992). The
incidence of goiter was higher in females than in males. Similarly, Al-Bouq et al. (2006) reported that
the incidence of goiter was 9.6% in Medinah Munawarah, Saudi Arabia.
Elhai et al (2005) reported an incidence of 60.6% in females referred to centre for nuclear medicine,
Lahore. A high incidence of goiter was also recorded in Gizan,Saudi Arabia (Sulimani et al. 1995)
Bombay,India (Dodd and Samul ,1993) and Tunisia (El-May et al.1997). The appearance of goiter
depends on many factors like sex, family history, iodine intake and thyroid autoimmunity. Low iodine
intake enhances the TSH sensitivity and positive influence of growth factors involved in the
physiological regulation of thyroid growth. The outcome of such stimulation may be substantial in girls
with mild iodine deficiency leading to the development of goiter during mid to late puberty (Flueury et
al.2001). High iodine deficiency was recorded in hypothyroidism females and hyperthyroidism males.
Epidemiological studies has shown that pattern of thyroid dysfunction in a community is largely
determined by iodine intake level (Knudsen et al. 2000). In iodine deficient communities incidence of
hypothyroidism is low while nontoxic goiter and hyperthyroidism due to toxic nodular goiter is
common and increases with age. Kutras (2001) reported that iodine deficiency, thyroid autoimmunity,
infection and previous irradiation are the common etiological factors of thyroid disorders. High
incidence of Hashimoto thyroidits was recorded in hypothyroidism males. Hanna and LaFranchi (2002)
reported that thyroid autoimmune diseases like Graves’ disease and Hashimoto’s thyroditis are
common reason of thyroid diseases. Takasu et al. (1990) described eight cases of autoimmune thyroid
disease with an alternating pattern of thyroid function. In five cases, hypothyroidism was followed by
transient hyperthyroidism.In two other cases,hypothyroidism was followed by persistent
hyperthyroidism, and in one case hypothyroidismwas associated with thyroid-stimulating antibodies, a
characteristic finding in Graves disease. Tamai et al. (1989) reported the development of spontaneous
hypothyroidism in 26 patients with Graves disease treated with antithyroid drugs. It is concluded from
this study that patients with thyroid disorders need immediate attention and follow up.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
I would like to thank Sabic company and RCC centre Umm- Alqura University for funding this work
(grant NO 0018/13/27 ).
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