A Study of Inflammatory Cytokines and Lipid Profile in Hypothyroidism Patients at a Tertiary Care Hospital

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: A common endocrine condition called hypothyroidism is caused by an underactive thyroid gland, which lowers the production of thyroid hormones such triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). Furthermore, dyslipidaemia and elevated inflammatory cytokine levels have been associated with hypothyroidism.
AIM AND OBJECTIVE: To find out the association between TSH and pro- inflammatory markers (IL6 and TNF alpha) in hypothyroid patients with dyslipidemia.
MATERIAL & METHODS: This was a one-year Prospective cross-sectional study conducted at a tertiary care hospital, Assam. Total 80 individuals were enrolled in this study in which 40 were case patients with hypothyroidism with dyslipidemia) and 40 were controls age and sex matched hypothyroid without dyslipidemia). Lipid profile and inflammatory cytokines value were recorded.
RESULTS: Out of 40(case group), 19 were male and 21 were females in which 14(35%) belong to age group 31-40 and only 3(7.5%) belong to age group 41-50. BMI values in the study were higher in cases (28.4 ± 4.6 kg/m2) compared to controls (23.8 ± 4.3 kg/m2) and was statistically significant. The hypothyroid patients also presented higher levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL and LDL than control group(healthy individuals) despite the age and BMI to be similar between groups and also inflammatory cytokines levels were significantly higher in hypothyroid patients with dyslipidemia(Case group), when compared to control group. The proinflammatory markers mainly IL 6 level also found to be higher in the hypothyroid patients with dyslipidemia (Cases) and positively correlated with increased TSH levels.

CONCLUSION: From the present study it can be assumed that inflammation plays an important role in hypothyroidism, and the cause for dyslipidemia can be contributed to this inflammation and because of which there is an additional inflammatory burden on the individual potentially striking towards an increasing risk for cardiovascular events.