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Abstract
Objective: Recent studies have shown that subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) has similar cardiovascular risks with clinical hypothyroidism (CH). We evaluated carotis intima media thickness (CIMT)-indicator of early changes in atherosclerotic process- in female patients, who have either CH or SCH, with similar age and demographic features.
Materials and Methods: In this study, we included 81 female patients admitted to internal medicine and endocrinology outpatient clinic, diagnosed with CH (30) or SCH (51) according to their laboratory findings and who have not previously received treatment and 38 healthy women. BMI (body mass index), sistolic and diastolic blood pressure, triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), LDL cholesterol (LDL-C), HDL cholesterol (HDL-C), vitamin B-12, folate, homocysteine, high-sensitive C-reactive protein (Hs CRP), and CIMT were measured in all participants
Results: There was not a statistical difference between the groups in TG, TC, HDL-C, LDL-C, vitamin B-12, and folate levels (p>0.05). On the other hand, SCH and CH groups differed statistically significantly from the control group for Hs CRP (p=0.011), homocysteine (p<0.001), and CIMT values. Additionally, age was found to be the most important factor for increase in CIMT when multiple linear regression analysis was performed.
Conclusions: Lack of difference between CH patients and SCH patients in respect to Hs CRP, homocystein, and CIMT shows that inflammation and increase in CIMT starts during SCH period. Hence, we think that the increase in CIMT in SCH patients when TSH levels are higher than the normal range is a clinically important sign of early cardiovascular diseases.