Dyslipidaemic changes in women with subclinical hypothyroidism

In overt hypothyroidism, many lipid abnormalities have been documented. This study was intended to demonstrate the levels of lipid in women with subclinical hypothyroidism (SH).

This was a case control study which was done at referral Centre in Chennai. Women with subclinical hypothyroidism and euthyroid women attending our master health checkup clinic were enrolled in this study.Their lipid profile, fasting blood sugar, T3,T4 and TSH levels were measured. In subclinical hypothyroidism, various parameters were compared.

Thirty euthyroid and 30 age matched subclinical hypothyroid women were enrolled in this study. There were significant dyslipidaemic changes is SH women as compared to euthyroid controls. Serum total cholesterol and triglyceride levels were significantly higher as compared to those in controls. LDL levels were higher is SH women, but did not reach statistical significance and lower levels of HDL were noticed in SH subjects as compared to those in euthyroid women. A positive association was also reported between serum TSH and lipid parameters in our study group.

SH, the earliest form of thyroid failure, has negative metabolic effects on the affected subjects.SH could be one of the causes of secondary hyperlipidaemia and should be viewed as an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis, along with obesity, hypertension, diabetes, etc.