High thyroid-stimulating hormone level is associated with the risk of developing atherosclerosis in subclinical hypothyroidism.
The aim of our study was to assess the potential role of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) in the risk of developing atherosclerosis in subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH). A cohort of 240 SCH patients and 150 euthyroid volunteers were recruited for the study. SCH patients were stratified into 2 groups according to TSH levels (group A: TSH<10 mIU/l; group B: TSH>10 mIU/l). All subjects were examined for clinical and biochemical parameters. Visfatin, omentin-1, and circulating endothelial biomarkers were measured. Patients in group B received l-thyroxine replacement to achieve euthyroidism; after 6 months of euthyroidism all measurements were repeated. Patients with SCH had higher total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and lower nitric oxide (NO) and omentin-1 levels compared to euthyroid subjects (all p<0.05). TC, LDL-C, and CRP decreased significantly, while NO and omentin-1 levels increased significantly after l-thyroxine replacement. Based on multivariate liner stepwise regression analysis, omentin-1 was independently correlated with BMI and TSH; NO was independently correlated with age, TSH, LDL-C, and omentin-1. High TSH level contributes to endothelial dysfunction in SCH, while TSH-induced decrease of omentin-1 provides a new link between SCH and atherogenic risk.
Department of Ultrasonic diagnosis, Gansu Provincial Hospital, Lanzhou, China.
C X
CX
Gao
Graduate School, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia, China.
B
B
Yang
Department of Endocrinology, Gansu Provincial Hospital, Lanzhou, China.
Q
Q
Guo
Clinical Laboratory, Gansu Provincial Hospital, Lanzhou, China.
L H
LH
Wei
Department of Endocrinology, Gansu Provincial Hospital, Lanzhou, China.
L M
LM
Tian
D000328:Adult; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D037102:Lectins / Q000097:blood; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood*
D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D016207:Cytokines; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins; C432397:ITLN1 protein, human; D037102:Lectins; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D013972:Thyrotropin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein