The Egyptian Journal of Internal Medicine (Jan 2019)
Assessment of some inflammatory markers and lipid profile as risk factors for atherosclerosis in subclinical hypothyroid patients
Abstract
Background Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) is associated with dyslipidemia and low grade inflammation leading to atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis shows an association with inflammatory markers, which with dyslipidemia may accelerate the atherogenesis, in SCH. Objective The objective of this study was to investigate some inflammatory markers and lipid profile as risk factors for atherosclerosis in SCH. Patients and methods An overall 100 participants were included and classified into two groups: control group I included 20 healthy volunteer, patient group II included 80 SCH patients and was subdivided into group ΙΙa (26 male patients) and group ΙΙb (54 female patients). All patients were submitted to the following investigations: complete blood picture, liver function tests, renal function tests, Lipid profile, calculated risk ratio I and II and specific laboratory Investigations [thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine, free tri-iodothyronine, C-reactive protein (CRP), serum interleukin (IL)-6 and serum IL-10 assays]. Results There were statistically high significant differences between the control group and the SCH group as regards serum triglycerides, cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, risk ratio I and II, TSH, IL-6, IL-10 and CRP (P<0.001). Statistically significant higher levels of CRP, serum IL-6 and IL-10 were observed in SCH patients than in controls. TSH had a positive correlation in SCH patients with all studied parameters including all lipid parameters, CRP, IL-6 and IL-10 and was negative only to free tri-iodothyronine and free thyroxine, whereas IL-6 and IL-10 correlated also with all parameters except age. Conclusion SCH is associated with increased levels of inflammatory markers and dyslipidemia, which are indicators for atherosclerosis, and are good predictors of cardiovascular morbidity.
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