Platelet Indices and RDW to Assess Inflammatory Milieu in Subclinical Hashimoto's Thyroiditis

Serum thyrotropin levels rise above normal while thyroid hormone levels remain within normal ranges, indicating subclinical hypothyroidism. PLT and MPV levels significantly increase in AITD patients; PLT levels are higher in hypothyroidism and Hashimoto's disease, whereas MPV levels are higher in hyperthyroidism and Graeve's disease. An increased MPV and other abnormal platelet values lead to a higher incidence of cardiovascular events. The aim was to evaluate RDW and platelet indices in Egyptian patients with subclinical Hashimo's thyroiditis using high-sensitivity CRP Hs-CRP as an indicator of inflammation.

Data for patients (60 patients) with subclinical Hashimoto's thyroiditis who visited the Menoufia University Hospital, Internal Medicine outpatient clinic included. We measured RDW, MPV, PDW, PC, LPCR, (FT3), (FT4), (TSH), lipid profile, Hs-CRP, and Antithyroid antibodies. According to Antithyroid antibodies positivity the 60 patients subdivided into 3 groups 1 (negative for Abs), 2 (positive to 1 Ab), and 3 (positive for both Abs).

Among our patients 40 (66.7%) tested positive for anti-thyroglobulin Abs while 36 (60.0%) tested positive for antiperoxidase Abs. RDW, MPV, and LPCR demonstrated positive significant correlations with serum Hs-CRP levels. The study revealed negative significant correlations between TSH levels and PDW and between T4 levels and MPV.

Early diagnosis of Hashimoto's thyroiditis can be supported by platelet indices and RDW as diagnostic tools and these markers can also offer prognostic insights into disease severity and complications to help initiate timely treatment for hypothyroidism and prevent atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.