Endocrine Abstracts

Aim: To investigate the relation of serum lipoprotein (a) (Lp(a)) and other serum lipids with presence of Graves’ Ophthalmopathy (GO). We also analyzed the correlation between serum lipids and GO activity.

Methods: A cross-sectional investigation was conducted in consecutive patients with Graves’ Disease (GD) who came under the authors’ observation to receive antithyroid drug. A stratification was aimed at forming two distinct groups of patients under the same conditions concerning age, gender, alcohol consumption, and smoking. A total of 99 patients, 45 with GO and 54 without GO were included along with 56 HCs. Ophthalmological assessments and serum lipids measurements were performed.

Results: The study groups were similar in age, sex, body mass index, alcohol consumption, and smoking status. The patients without GO had the highest serum Lp(a) (6.7 mg/dl, IQR [3.7-9.9]), followed by patients with GO (5.7 mg/dl, IQR [4.3-9.2]), and HCs (4.7 mg/dl, IQR [3-7.6]). Inter-group comparisons of serum Lp(a) yielded no significant results (P=0.165). Serum levels of total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, and triglycerides also did not show any difference between patients with GO, patients without GO, and HCs (P>0.05 for all). Serum Lp(a), total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, and triglycerides were not correlated with GO activity (P>0.05 for all).

Conclusion: The results of this study indicated no relation of serum Lp(a), total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, and triglycerides with the presence of GO. Further studies with a larger sample size are needed to investigate whether the presence and activity of GO are affected by serum Lp(a) and/or other lipids.