Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in subclinical hypothyroidism.
The significance of subclinical hypothyroidism in regard to ensuing hyperlipidemia remains unclear. Because an unfavorable lipid profile would provide a possible explanation for the reported association of coronary-heart disease with this syndrome, we have evaluated the relationship of thyrotropin (TSH) with total cholesterol, low-density-lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and triglycerides in patients with normal thyroid function (n = 4886) as well as subclinical (n = 1055) and manifest (n = 92) hypothyroidism. Serum concentrations of LDL cholesterol were similar in euthyroid persons (134+/-39 mg/dL) and in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism (137+/-40 mg/dL) but were higher (178+/-70 mg/dL, p < 0.01) in overt hypothyroidism. Within the group of subjects with subclinical hypothyroidism there was no apparent relationship between serum concentrations of TSH ranging from 4.0 to 49.0 microU/mL and concentrations of LDL cholesterol. Thus, there is no "threshold value" of TSH in these patients per se necessitating substitution therapy with thyroxine.
Vierhapper
H
H
Department of Internal Medicine III, University of Vienna, Austria. h.vierhapper@akh-wien.ac.at
Nardi
A
A
Grösser
P
P
Raber
W
W
Gessl
A
A
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood*; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D012737:Sex Factors; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000502:physiology; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D014280:Triglycerides; D013972:Thyrotropin