SERUM INFLAMMATORY MARKERS IN SUBCLINICAL HYPOTHYROIDISM

Dr. Sindhu Mala*, Dr. Sateesh Kumar, Dr. Kunari Piryanka, Dr. Zahir Ali Shaikh

ABSTRACT

Objective: To investigate the thyroid function, inflammatory markers and blood lipid profile in the subclinical hypothyroidism. Study design: Cross sectional study Place and Duration: Department of Medicine, Jinnah Postgraduate and Medical College Karachi from December 2016 july 2017. Materials and Methods: Cases and controls were selected by inclusion and exclusion criteria through non-probability purposive sampling. SCH was defined as serum TSH level > 6.2 (μIU /ml) with normal free T4 and T3. 10 ml venous blood was taken from ante cubital vein. Thyroid hormone profile, Interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein (CRP) were estimated by ELISA assay kit and blood lipids profile by standard methods. Data analysis was performed on SPSS 22.0 at 95% confidence interval (P-value ≤0.05). Results: Serum cholesterol, LDLc and triglycerides were raised in SCH cases with low HDLc (P=0.001). Interleukin-6 and CRP in controls and cases were noted as 8.98±0.42 and 18.13±2.87 pg/ml & 2.66±1.31 and 6.41±2.58 ng/ml respectively (P=0.0001). Serum TSH reveals positive association with IL-6 (r=0.951, p=0.0001) and CRP (r=0.626, p=0.0001), negative association was noted with serum T3 and T4 (Table 2). Conclusion: The present study reports elevated serum interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein and dyslipidemia in subclinical hypothyroidism patients.

Keywords: Interleukin-6, C-reactive protein, Dyslipidemia, Subclinical hypothyroidism.