Abstract

Background: Several studies have demonstrated significantly lower high density lipoprotein (HDL) and higher triglycer - ides, and higher C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH).
Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the levels of serum lipids and hs-CRP in patients with SCH and find out the correlation between levels of TSH with lipids and highly sensitive CRP (hs-CRP) in SCH.
Materials and Methods: This study comprised 150 patients and equal number of controls. Thyroid profile, lipid profile, and hs-CRP levels were performed on venous blood samples. Lipid profile was done using fully automated analyzer— 912 Hitachi. Thyroid profile was done by chemiluminescence method and the level of hs-CRP was measured using latex agglutination method.
Results: TSH positively and significantly correlated with total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol, triglycerides, and very low density lipoprotein-cholesterol and inversely and insignificantly correlated with HDL-cholesterol. TSH and hs-CRP levels were positively and significantly correlated in subclinical hypothyroid patients as compared with controls. Conclusion: In view of this study, SCH becomes an important entity due to possible link between it and cardiovascular risk factors especially lipid abnormalities. Also, significant association between TSH and hs-CRP is an important finding in this study.