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OBJECTIVE: Infertility is inadequately acknowledged as a problem in developing countries. Thyroid Autoimmunity (TAI) has been neatly investigated for its association with unfavorable pregnancy and reproductive consequences. We aim to evaluate Clinical Pregnancy Rate (CPR) as a primary outcome following In Vitro Fertilization/Intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection (IVF/ICSI) in women with Thyroid Autoimmunity (TAI). METHODS: A Retrospective cohort study included 584 women who underwent IVF/ICSI treatment between November 2012 and April 2017 in Orient Hospital, Damascus, Syria. Patients were tested for TAI before IVF/ICSI procedure. RESULTS: CPR did not significantly differ between TAI positive and TAI negative groups (p > 0.05). Subgroup analysis for only primary infertility patients showed a statistically significant difference in CPR between TAI positive and TAI negative groups. CONCLUSION: Although several arguments were in favor of the relation between IVF/ICSI outcomes and Thyroid autoimmune disease, the presence of TAI positivity did not adversely affect the clinical pregnancy rate.
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Introduction Thyroid autoimmune (TAI) disease with a prevalence varying between 5 and 15%, represents the most common endocrine disorder in women with reproductive age. Not only is TAI disease five to 10 folds more common in women than men but also TAI diseases is often undiagnosed because it may be present without overt thyroid dysfunction for several years. Studies found an increased prevalence of TAI in women referred to fertility clinics compared with normal population. In this analysis we aimed to study the prevalence of TAI among women seeking fertility care in Damascus, Syria in order to understand its clinical and public health importance in population. Methods This study is a retrospective cross-sectional study on women patients seeking fertility care at Orient Hospital, Damascus city, Syria from April 2011 to March 2018. A total of 2526 women, with available biochemical data of anti-thyroid antibodies (anti-TPO) and anti-thyroglobulin antibodies (anti-TG) were included in our study. Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) titers data were also included in the statistical analysis. Results TAI was found positive in 559 patients (22.1%) of our studies population. TAI was more prevalent in patients with abnormal TSH levels. Conclusion Thyroid autoimmunity prevalence in women seeking fertility care in Damascus, Syria was 22.1% which is significantly higher than normal population. Further studies are needed to assess the relation of these antibodies in thyroid, gynecological and other factors for the Syrian population.
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OBJECTIVE: Hypoglycemia is the most common complication of the treatment for diabetes mellitus. Various factors predispose an individual for drug-induced hypoglycemia. The aim of this study was to explore the relative frequency and likely predisposing factors for drug-induced hypoglycemia among type-2 diabetic patients in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). METHODS: In this cross-sectional survey-based study which was conducted from February to April 2018 in two local community pharmacies in the UAE, diabetic patients underwent a structured interview on their diabetes mellitus status and management and specific open-ended questions related to hypoglycemic symptoms that they might have experienced and the occurrence of symptoms. Collected data were used to estimate the relative frequency of drug-induced hypoglycemia and to identify the probable predisposing factors and their contribution in causing hypoglycemia using relative risk, Chi-square test, and Fisher's exact test. FINDINGS: The relative frequency of drug-induced hypoglycemia in our study was 46.25%. Patients' age of ≥65 years, duration of diabetes mellitus for more than 1 year, patients with more than one comorbid condition, and patients using more than one antidiabetic medication were predisposing for developing drug-induced hypoglycemia. CONCLUSION: The relative frequency of drug-induced hypoglycemia in a nontrial environment which lacks the special cares routinely provided in drug development clinical trials is high. We suggest that more attention should be paid to identify, prevent, and manage drug-induced hypoglycemia in type-2 diabetic patients who have more than 1 year of diabetes, more than one comorbidity, using more than one antidiabetic medication, and elderly.
