Epidemiological, clinical and etiological aspects of primary hypothyroidism in Mauritanian adult.

Abstract

Introduction : The purpose of this study is to describe the epidemiological, clinical and etiological proiles of primary hypothyroidism in Mauritanian adults. Methods : This is a retrospective study of adult patients with primary hypothyroidism between 2008 and 2010 in the department of internal medicine in Mauritanian National Hospital Center. The diagnosis of primary hypothyroidism was based on an increase in TSH associated with or without decrease free T4. Results : There were 72 patients, 61 women and 11 men. The average age of patients was 42 years (21 ‑ 70 years). Symptoms was dominated by asthenia, myxedema, psychomotor retardation, pallor and constipation, TSH was greater than 50uU/ml (0.5‑6) in 30% of cases, FT4 was low in 75%, etiologies were dominated by Hashimoto thyroiditis in 52.8% of cases, idiopathic in 27.8% and iatrogenic in 19.4% Conclusion : Primary hypothyroidism is a relatively rare disease in Mauritania, diagnosis done late based on symptoms of hypometabolism, etiologies are dominated by Hashimoto thyroiditis and thyroid surgery