CARDIOVASCULAR RISK IN PATIENTS WITH MILD TO SEVERE SUBCLINICAL HYPOTHYROIDISM

ABSTRACTObjective: Cardiovascular risk as suggested by its name refers to altered lipid profile and C-reactive protein. It is associated with hypothyroidismdue to the effect of abnormal concentrations of thyroid hormones in the cardiovascular system and increased the risk of atherosclerosis. Subclinicalhypothyroidism is associated with cardiac abnormalities is not well-documented. C-reactive protein one of the markers of inflammation, considered tobe the predictor of cardiovascular diseases. It may be helpful in the assessment of future developments of cardiovascular abnormalities in subclinicalhypothyroidism.Methods: Recently diagnosed 71 subclinical hypothyroidism patients were enrolled in the study and compared with 63 healthy individuals.Patients were divided into two groups on the basis of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) concentration. Thyroid profile (TSH, free thyroxine,triiodothyroinine) and C-reactive protein were estimated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), and highdensitylipoprotein-cholesterolwereinvestigatedin the studypopulation bya spectrophotometricmethod,and low-densitylipoprotein-cholesterol(LDL-C)wasmeasuredbythe Friedewaldformula.Results and Conclusion: Altered lipid profile, as well as higher concentrations of C-reactive protein, was observed in subclinical hypothyroidismpatients as compared to controls. Higher concentration of TC, TG, and LDL was observed in subclinical hypothyroidism patients while theconcentration of high-density lipoprotein was lower in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism. The elevated concentration of C-reactive proteinwas also observed in the patient group. Patients having TSH >10 µIU/ml have a higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease compared to patientshaving TSH <10 µIU/ml and increasing concentration of C-reactive protein along with LDL-C may progress to cardiac abnormality.Keywords: Subclinical hypothyroidism, C-reactive protein, Dyslipidemia, Cardiovascular risk