Source: DGNews  |  Posted 1 year ago

By Karen Dente

PARIS -- September 17, 2010 -- Subclinical hypothyroidism has been shown to have an effect on the lipid profile with resulting endothelial and cardiovascular dysfunction, according to findings presented here on September 14 at the 14th International Thyroid Congress (ITC).

"The aim of our study was to compare the lipid profile of one group of patients with subclinical hypothyroidism to assess the effect on the lipid profile and C-reactive protein [CRP] and resulting outcome on endothelium function," according to O. Pirhaji, MD, Department of Internal Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran, and colleagues.

The cross-sectional study looked at 35 patients with subclinical hypothyroid and 103 patients with euthyroid. The control group had no signs of disorders affecting cardiovascular function.

All patients enrolled were evaluated for triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), total thyroxin, thyrotropin (TSH), and CRP.

Patients with TSH levels >10 were excluded from the study. Both treatment and control groups were matched for atherosclerotic risk factors.

The group of patients displaying subclinical hypothyroidism were found to have significantly lower HDL and higher triglycerides in fasting plasma, and higher CRP levels.

LDL levels did not differ significantly between the 2 groups.

"These findings demonstrate that subclinical hypothyroidism significantly affects the cardiovascular function and endothelium function by increasing CRP and lipid profiles and suggests that treatment of subclinical hypothyroid in selected subjects recover from these increases following treatment," the authors wrote.

[Presentation title: The Comparison of Lipid Profile in Subclinical Hypothyroidism Patient and Euthyroid Subjects. Abstract P-0817]