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Background: Ferritin is an iron storage protein found in almost all of the body tissues. Serum ferritin levels also have been reported to be altered in patients with thyroid disease. Thus, changes in the serum concentrations of ferritin reflect thyroid function. Objective: For the synthesis of thyroid hormones, thyroperoxidase requires iron. It has been suggested that there is an association between thyroid profile and ferritin levels, which is the storage protein for iron in the body. This study was undertaken to assess ferritin levels in hypothyroid patients. Materials and Methods: Ferritin levels were estimated in 50 newly diagnosed patients of hypothyroidism using chemiluminescence technique (ADVIA Centaur CP). Total T3 and T4 levels were estimated using radioimmunoassay. Free T3, T4, and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels were estimated using chemiluminescence. These were then compared with age-and sex-matched healthy controls. Results were correlated statistically. Results: Serum ferritin levels were found to be significantly reduced in patients with hypothyroidism compared to normal subjects (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Hypothyroidism is associated with low serum ferritin levels. The estimation of serum ferritin may help in understanding the etiopathogenesis, diagnosis, and monitoring of hypothyroid patients.

Objective Thyroid status in the months following radioiodine (RI) treatment for Graves' disease can be unstable. Our objective was to quantify frequency of abnormal thyroid function post‐RI and compare effectiveness of common management strategies. Design Retrospective, multicentre and observational study. Patients Adult patients with Graves' disease treated with RI with 12 months' follow‐up. Measurements Euthyroidism was defined as both serum thyrotropin (thyroid‐stimulating hormone [TSH]) and free thyroxine (FT4) within their reference ranges or, when only one was available, it was within its reference range; hypothyroidism as TSH ≥ 10 mU/L, or subnormal FT4 regardless of TSH; hyperthyroidism as TSH below and FT4 above their reference ranges; dysthyroidism as the sum of hypo‐ and hyperthyroidism; subclinical hypothyroidism as normal FT4 and TSH between the upper limit of normal and <10 mU/L; and subclinical hyperthyroidism as low TSH and normal FT4. Results Of 812 patients studied post‐RI, hypothyroidism occurred in 80.7% and hyperthyroidism in 48.6% of patients. Three principal post‐RI management strategies were employed: (a) antithyroid drugs alone, (b) levothyroxine alone, and (c) combination of the two. Differences among these were small. Adherence to national guidelines regarding monitoring thyroid function in the first 6 months was low (21.4%–28.7%). No negative outcomes (new‐onset/exacerbation of Graves' orbitopathy, weight gain, and cardiovascular events) were associated with dysthyroidism. There were significant differences in demographics, clinical practice, and thyroid status postradioiodine between centres. Conclusions Dysthyroidism in the 12 months post‐RI was common. Differences between post‐RI strategies were small, suggesting these interventions alone are unlikely to address the high frequency of dysthyroidism.

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