title: Comparison of pre- and post-levothyroxine high-sensitivity c-reactive protein and fetuin-a levels in subclinical hypothyroidism.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this trial was to determine the levels of inflammatory markers, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and fetuin-A pre- and post-levothyroxine treatment in cases of subclinical hypothyroidism.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 32 patients with a diagnosis of subclinical hypothyroidism and a control group of 30 healthy individuals were tested for high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and fetuin-A, followed by the administration of 50 µg of levothyroxine in the patient group for 3 months. During the post-treatment stage, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and fetuin-A levels in the patient group were re-assessed and compared with pre-treatment values.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pre-treatment levels of both high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and fetuin-A were observed to be higher in the patient group than in the control group. The decrease in high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels during the post-treatment stage was not statistically significant. However, the decrease observed in post-treatment fetuin-A levels was found to be statistically significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The decrease in fetuin-A levels in subclinical hypothyroidism cases indicates that levothyroxine treatment exerts anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects. Although the decrease in high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels was statistically non-significant, it is predicted to reach significance with sustained treatment.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Izmir Bozyaka Education and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey.
authors: Oktay
authors: O
authors: Bilgir
authors: Department of Allergy and Immunology, Katip Celebi University Medical School, Izmir, Turkey.
authors: Ferda
authors: F
authors: Bilgir
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Izmir Bozyaka Education and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey.
authors: Mehmet
authors: M
authors: Calan
authors: Department of Biochemistry, Dokuz Eylul University Medical School, Izmir, Turkey.
authors: Ozlem Gursoy
authors: OG
authors: Calan
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Izmir Bozyaka Education and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey.
authors: Arif
authors: A
authors: Yuksel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D008875:Middle Aged; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D060749:alpha-2-HS-Glycoprotein / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D060749:alpha-2-HS-Glycoprotein; D013972:Thyrotropin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D013974:Thyroxine