Plasma viscosity, an early cardiovascular risk factor in women with subclinical hypothyroidism.
OBJECTIVE
It is controversial, if subclinical hypothyroidism increases cardiovascular risk. Plasma viscosity is a hemorheological parameter, which is accepted as an early cardiovascular risk factor. We investigated the alterations in plasma viscosity in women with subclinical hypothyroidism.


METHODS
40 female patients with subclinical hypothyroidism and 31 age- and weight-matched healthy women were included. Free thyroxine (FT4), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), lipid parameters, fibrinogen, C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, hematocrit and plasma viscosity were measured in all subjects.


RESULTS
Plasma viscosity, total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein were significantly increased and high density lipoprotein was significantly decreased in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism. No significant correlation was found among the parameters.


CONCLUSIONS
Increased plasma viscosity in patients' group suggests that cardiovascular risk might be increased in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism. As far as we could reach, this is the first study concerning plasma viscosity in subclinical hypothyroidism.
Erdem
T Y
TY
Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Istanbul University, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Turkey.
Ercan
M
M
Ugurlu
S
S
Balci
H
H
Acbay
O
O
Gundogdu
S
S
D000328:Adult; D001809:Blood Viscosity / Q000502:physiology*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood*; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000097:blood*; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL / Q000097:blood*; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors
D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL