ECE2023 Poster Presentations Thyroid (163 abstracts)
1University of Debrecen, Department of Endocrinology, Debrecen, Hungary; 2University of Debrecen, Department of Nephrology, Debrecen, Hungary; 3University of Debrecen, Department of Metabolism, Debrecen, Hungary; 4University of Debrecen, Department of Clinical Basics, Debrecen, Hungary; 5University of Debrecen, Department of Endocrinology, Debrecen, Hungary
Background: Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is a hormonal regulator of lipid and glucose metabolism exerting protection against atherosclerosis by multiple actions on the blood vessels, liver, and adipose tissues. Enhanced FGF21 production in diabetes and obesity reduces the level of LDL-C and triglycerides by suppression of hepatic SREBP-2. Hypothyroidism has also been shown to have unfavorable effects on atherogenesis and dyslipidemia. To date, the association of lipid parameters and FGF21 levels in autoimmune thyroiditis has not been studied.
Subjects and methods: We enrolled one hundred and ten patients with autoimmune thyroiditis (9 males, 101 females, mean age 49±17 years, median BMI 25.6 (23.7-31.4) kg/m2) with various thyroid hormone status from hypo- to hyperthyroidism. Serum FGF21 concentrations were determined with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Thyroid hormone levels, anti-thyroperoxidase concentration and lipid parameters were measured by routine laboratory methods.
Results: Median serum FGF21 level was 81.4 (34.9-151.9) pg/ml, LDL-C was 3.2 (2.6-4.0) mmol/l, HDL-C was 1.6 (1.3-1.8), triglyceride was 1.3 (0.9-2.0) mmol/l, TSH was 2.8 (1.3-4.7) mU/l, while mean total cholesterol level was 5.3±1.1 mmol/l. Mean fT3 and fT4 were 4.58±0.71 and 17.8±3.7 pmol/l, respectively. Significant positive correlations were found between age, BMI, total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL-C, ApoB100, nonHDL cholesterol and FGF21 levels, while there was a significant negative correlation between fT3 and FGF21 levels. According to multiple regression analyses fT3 level is not a significant predictor of FGF21 or lipid levels.
Conclusions: The significant correlations between FGF21 and lipid parameters indicate the link between FGF21 regulating pathway and lipid metabolism in patients with autoimmune thyroiditis, regardless of thyroid function.