SERUM LIPID PROFILE IN DISTINCT GRADES OF SUBCLINICAL HYPOTHYROIDISM

V. Ramesh*, R. Kamalam and C. Gandhimathi

ABSTRACT

Dyslipidemia is the most common metabolic abnormality in subjects with thyroid disease, either in overt or subclinical forms of disease. Association of overt Hypothyroidism with abnormal lipid profile is the accepted clinical finding but still there is a skepticism regarding subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) associated with lipid disorder. The purpose of the present study was to explore the association between thyroid hormones and abnormal lipid profile in SCH. 342 study subjects in the age group of 15 to 80 years were analysed. In this, 230 were Euthyroid Controls, 112 subjects were having SCH (60 persons were having Grade - I SCH, TSH < 6 μIU/ml; 40 persons - Grade II SCH, TSH 12 μIU/ml). The thyroid profile namely Serum TSH, free thyroxine (FT4) and the lipid profile namely serum TGL, Total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and LDL cholesterol were measured. Serum TGL, LDL, Total cholesterol, Total Cholesterol/HDL ratio levels in SCH individuals were significantly higher than euthyroid subjects (p<0.01). No statistically significant difference between SCH individuals and euthyroid controls were found in HDL level except for an increase in HDL levels. It is also observed that the percentage of elevated serum lipids in the study subjects were more marked in Grade III SCH than the other groups. Hence, the present study supported the fact that hypothyroidism was associated with an abnormal lipid profile especially with respect to the levels of Total cholesterol, LDL and triglycerides.

Keywords: Subclinical Hypothyroidism, TSH, Lipid Profile, Dyslipidemia.