title: Plasma fetuin-A levels are reduced in patients with hypothyroidism.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine plasma fetuin-A levels in hypothyroid patients before and after treatment with l-thyroxine (T4) and to determine the relation between plasma fetuin-A levels with cardiovascular risk factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective, controlled, single-blind study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-four treatment-naive female patients diagnosed with hypothyroidism and 39 age- and sex-matched control subjects were enrolled. Anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, plasma TSH, fetuin-A, free T4, LDL-cholesterol, triglyceride, C-reactive protein, fibrinogen levels, and brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation were measured. All measurements were repeated after 3 months in the control group and 3 months after the attainment of euthyroidism with l-T4 replacement in the hypothyroid group. Baseline data were compared between the two groups. Posttreatment plasma fetuin-A levels of hypothyroid patients were compared with baseline levels of both groups. The relationship between plasma fetuin-A, TSH levels, and other cardiovascular risk factors was evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Plasma fetuin-A levels were ∼20% lower in hypothyroid female patients compared with the controls (P=0.0001). Fetuin-A levels increased by ∼20% in hypothyroid patients after achievement of euthyroidism (P=0.0001) and were no longer different compared with controls (P=0.38). There was a negative correlation between plasma TSH and fetuin-A levels (r=-0.79; P=0.001). There was no significant correlation between plasma fetuin-A levels and cardiovascular risk factors within or between groups. The fetuin-A levels were normalized with thyroid hormone treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Plasma fetuin-A levels are reduced in female patients with hypothyroidism, which are restored to normal during restoration of euthyroidism. There was no relation with cardiovascular risk factors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Baskent University, Dadaloglu Mah. Serinevler 2591 Sk., No:4/A 01250 Yuregir/ADANA, Adana, Turkey.
authors.forename: Okan
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Bakiner
authors.forename: Emre
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bozkirli
authors.forename: Derun
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ertugrul
authors.forename: Nurzen
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sezgin
authors.forename: Eda
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ertorer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013967:Thyroiditis, Autoimmune / Q000150:complications; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D060749:alpha-2-HS-Glycoprotein / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D060749:alpha-2-HS-Glycoprotein; D013972:Thyrotropin; D013974:Thyroxine