www.ijcmr.com International Journal of Contemporary Medical Research Volume 3 | Issue 11 | November 2016 | ICV (2015): 77.83 | ISSN (Online): 2393-915X; (Print): 2454-7379 3262 Sensory Neuropathy in Hypothyroidism: A Case-Control Study Satish Waghmare 1 , Sachin Pawar 2 , Vinod Shende 3 , Shobha Pajai 2 ORIGINAL RESEARCH ABSTRACT Introduction: Hypothyroidism is a endocrine disorder which results in neurological dysfunction. It also affects brain, peripheral nerves and muscular system. The neurologic manifestations, which may be noted incidently, occur in conjunction with the systemic features of the disease. Peripheral neuropathy occurs early in hypothyroidism and its detection is necessary for early diagnosis and treatment. Study aimed to know the sensory nerve conduction in patients of Hypothyroidism and to compare sensory nerve conduction parameters in patients of Hypothyroidism with normal healthy individuals. Material and Methods: A case-control study conducted in 200 subjects aged 18 years and above (100 cases, 100 controls). The study was done in clinical neurophysiology unit of a rural teaching hospital in central India. In all subjects, nerve conduction study was performed using RMS EMG EP-II available in department of Physiology. Electrophysiological parameters like Sensory Nerve Action Potential amplitude and conduction velocity were evaluated. Results It was found that sensory nerve action potential amplitude and conduction velocity were signiicantly reduced in Median and Sural nerves in cases as compared to controls. Conclusion. Nerve conduction study very effective test for early diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy in Hypothyroidism. Keywords: Hypothyroidism, Sensory neuropathy, Nerve conduction study INTRODUCTION The thyroid hormone is a key regulator of cellular metabolism in the body. The thyroid hormones maintain the various metabolic functions by stimulating the oxygen consumption in most of the cells of our body and are also necessary for their normal growth and maturation. The thyroid gland though is not essential for life; its absence causes mental and physical growth retardation. 1 Hypothyroidism is caused by the low level of circulating thyroid hormones and raised TSH. It is estimated to affect 3.8–4.6 % of general population, with four times common in women. 2 The most common cause of hypothyroidism in India is Iodine deiciency. General clinical features of hypothyroidism includes tiredness and weight gain without appreciable increase in caloric intake, decreased heat production, lower body temperature, intolerance to cold and decreased sweating, constipation, fatigue, somnolence and hoarseness of voice. 3 Hypothyroidism is a endocrine disorder which results in neurological dysfunction. It also affects brain, peripheral nerves and muscular system. The neurologic manifestations, which may be noted incidently, occur in conjunction with the systemic features of the disease. The symptoms and signs of neurologic dysfunction may be the presenting feature in some patients and can contribute signiicantly to disability. 4 In adults, the neurological manifestations of clinical hypothyroidism include decreased mental status, bradycardia, hypothermia, poor concentration and short-term memory, peripheral neuropathy, entrapment neuropathy and myxedema coma. In some patients with clinical hypothyroidism, the main and presenting manifestation may be the peripheral nerve dysfunction. In overt hypothyroidism, the frequency and severity of neuromuscular disease depends mostly upon the severity and duration of thyroid hormone deiciency. 5 In hypothyroidism, metabolic alteration occurs due to hormonal imbalance which affects the Schwann cell and induces a segmental demyelination. It has been shown electrophysiologically and pathologically that there is primary axonal degeneration. 6 The function and the ability of electrical conduction of the motor and sensory nerves, can be evaluated by nerve conduction study. With the steady improvement and the standardization of these methods, nerve conduction studies have become reliable tests in clinical settings. Nerve conduction studies often can deine whether the underlying pathophysiology is demyelination or axonal loss and they can differentiate between a primary demyelinating and a primary axonal neuropathy. 7 This study was done to observe the effects of hypothyroidism on nerve conduction parameters and for the evaluation of the role of nerve conduction study for early diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy in patients of hypothyroidism. MATERIAL AND METHODS A case control study was done which was carried out in Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Sewagram. This study was done in the patients of hypothyroidism 18 years and above for a period of two years from August 2012 to July 2014. The study was done in 200 subjects including 100 cases and 100 control. Cases were referred from department of Medicine. Detail history of the subjects was taken including general signs and symptoms related to hypothyroidism, alcohol intake, smoking and any drug history. We also enquired the subjects about their demographic and socio-economic variables. Blood pressure measurement and anthropometric parameters were recorded in all subjects and determination of Serum total T3, total T4 and TSH was done by chemiluminescense assay. Patients suffering from diabetes mellitus, liver and kidney disease and patients with hypothyroidism secondary to pituitary 1 Assistant Professor, Dr Vasantrao Pawar Medical College, Nashik, 2 Associate Professor, 3 Assistant Professor, Mahatama Gandhi Institute of Medical Science, Sevagram. Dist, Wardha, Maharashtra, India Corresponding author: Satish Waghmare, Assistant Professor, Department of Physiology, Dr Vasantrao Pawar Medical College, Nashik, Maharashtra, India How to cite this article: Satish Waghmare, Sachin Pawar, Vinod Shende, Shobha Pajai. Sensory neuropathy in hypothyroidism: a case- control study. International Journal of Contemporary Medical Research 2016;3(11):3262-3265.