Endocrine Abstracts

Objective: The risk of atherosclerotic heart disease is increased in hypothyroidism. Although the reason is not clear. It is known that high level of Lp(a) is increases the risk of atherosclerotic heart diseases. The aim of this study is to investigate the relation between Lp(a) levels and thyroid hormones in the Hashimato’s patients.

Methods: One hundred and fifty Hashimato’s patient (50 patients diagnosed with clinic hypothryoid, 50 patients diagnosed with subclinic hypothroid and 50 patients diagnosed with euthyroid) followed at Endocrinology outpatient clinic were enrolled in this study. The control group consisted of 50 age matched healthy volunteers. In every group, thyroid function tests (FT₃, FT₄, and TSH), lipid profile and Lp(a) levels were measured.

Results: The Lp(a) level at patients with clinic, subclinic and euthyroid Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is higher than the Lp(a) level of control group (P: 0.002; P<0.01). Total cholesterol and LDL levels were higher in all Hashimato groups than the control group. (P: 0.001; P<0.01). Trigliserid levels of patients in clinic hypothyroid group was higher than the control group (P: 0.006; P<0.01). A significant relationship was found between Lp(a) levels and LDL levels in a positive manner (P: 0.032; P<0.05) (r=0.152). There was a negative relationship between the TSH level and LP(a) level at the group of euthyroid Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.

Conclusion: The total cholesterol, LDL and Lp(a) levels were higher even in euthyroid Hashimato patients than the control group. This might have been the one of the reasons of increased atherosclerotic diseases in Hashimato’s thyroiditis.

Keywords: Hypothyroidism, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, Lipoprotein(a), LDL cholesterol, total cholesterol, TSH.