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Clinic of Neurology, , University clinical center of Republika Srpska , Banja Luka , Bosnia and Herzegovina
Faculty of Medicine , University of Banja Luka , Banja Luka , Bosnia and Herzegovina
Clinic of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Banja Luka, University clinical center of Republika Srpska , Banja Luka , Bosnia and Herzegovina
Clinic of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Banja Luka, Republic of Srpska, University clinical center of Republika Srpska , Banja Luka , Bosnia and Herzegovina
Clinic of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Banja Luka, University clinical center of Republika Srpska , Banja Luka , Bosnia and Herzegovina
Clinic of Endocrinology, Faculty of Medicine, Banja Luka, University clinical center of Republika Srpska , Banja Luka , Bosnia and Herzegovina
Clinic of Endocrinology, Faculty of medicine, Banja Luka, University clinical center of Republika Srpska , Banja Luka , Bosnia and Herzegovina
Introduction: Thyroid dysfunction has been identified as one of the most common comorbidities in people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS). This study aimed to determine the prevalence of thyroid disease and vitamin D levels in patients with MS compared to the general population, and to assess the potential impact of thyroid status and vitamin D levels on the degree of physical disability and the prediction of multiple sclerosis.
Methods: A total of 127 participants were prospectively enrolled in the study: 59 (46.5%) were healthy controls, and 68 (53.5%) were patients diagnosed with MS. Both groups were assessed for serum levels of TSH, FT4, anti-TPO antibodies, and vitamin D. In the MS group, the physical disability was additionally evaluated using the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS).
Results: Overt hypothyroidism (p = 0.011) and vitamin D deficiency (p = 0.013) were significantly more frequent among MS patients. Mean FT4 levels (p = 0.025) and vitamin D levels (p = 0.018) were significantly lower in the MS group, whereas anti-TPO antibody levels were markedly higher in MS patients (p < 0.001). EDSS scores showed a negative correlation with vitamin D concentrations (p < 0.050). Multivariate analysis identified independent risk factors for MS, including the presence of severe hypovitaminosis D (p = 0.035), lower vitamin D concentrations (p = 0.003), and elevated anti-TPO levels (p = 0.042).
Conclusion: Evaluation of thyroid status, as well as vitamin D concentrations, should be considered a standard part of healthcare for pwMS.
Keywords: Multiple sclerosis, thyroid gland, vitamin D
Conceptualization, D.T., G.M. and V.S.S.; Data curation, D.T.; Formal Analysis, D.T. and Z.V.; Funding acquisition, D.T.; Investigation, D.T., S.G., G.M. and V.S.S.; Methodology, D.T., G.M. and V.S.S.; Project administration, D.T.; Resources, D.T., S.G., A.D.K., Z.V., G.M. and V.S.S.; Software, D.T.; Supervision, D.T., G.M. and V.S.S.; Validation, D.T. and G.M.; Visualization, D.T.; Writing – original draft, D.T. and G.M.; Writing – review & editing, D.T., G.M. and V.S.S. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
The authors received no specific fund ing for this work.
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