Abstract :
Overt hypothyroidism(HO) defined as high Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) levels with low levels of
free thyroxine (FT4) and / or free triiodothyronine (FT3). Hypothyroidism is associated with an increased
risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Serum Homocysteine (Hcy) is a independent risk factor for
atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases. Elevated plasma homocysteine levels have been reported in
overt hypothyroidism.
Aim: To study levels of Hcy in relation to TSH, FT4 and FT3 levels in overt hypothyroid patients compared
to control groups and correlation between Hcy and thyroid hormones.
Materials and Methods: This study included 50 female overt hypothyroid cases with age group between
18-50 years and 50 healthy females controls with same age group. Serum homocysteine was estimated by
Homocysteine Enzyme Assay in Cobas Integra 400 plus. TSH, FT4 & FT3 estimated by CLIA method
using Beckman coulter Access 2. Parameters of cases and controls are compared using unpaired ‘t’ test and
the association between parameters is assessed by using Pearson’s correlation.
Results: There is a significant increase in Serum Hcy levels 19.24 7.15 mmol/L and TSH levels 30.91
10.21 mIU/ml respectively (p value
Hcy was positively correlated with TSH and negatively correlated with FT4 and FT3.
Conclusion: Thus, from our study we can conclude that serum Hcy levels can be used as a marker, which
points towards the possible risk factor for atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases in Overt hypothyroid
patients.
Keyword :
Atherosclerosis, Cardiovascular disease, Homocysteine, Overt hypothyroidism.