title: Thoracic periaortic adipose tissue is increased in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate thoracic periaortic adipose tissue (TAT) volume in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism (SH) in comparison with controls and in relation to cardiovascular risk factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study population consisted of 28 newly diagnosed SH patients (mean (s.d.) age: 37.3 (±11.4) years, 85.7% were females) and 37 healthy volunteers (mean (s.d.) age: 35.3 (±10.7) years, 81.5% were females). Comparisons between patient and control groups used demographic characteristics, anthropometrics, and laboratory findings. All participants underwent thoracic radiographic assessment in the supine position, using an eight-slice multidetector computed tomography scanner and TAT volume was measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The TAT volume was determined to be 27.2 (±12.7) cm(3) in the SH group and 16.3 (±8.1) cm(3) in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.001). In addition, TSH levels were significantly higher in the patient group compared with the control group (P<0.001). A significant correlation was also found between TSH levels and TAT volume (r=0.572; P<0.001). In SH patients, no significant difference was noted in TAT levels with respect to sex (P=0.383) or concomitant smoking status (P=0.426).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings indicate that SH patients have significantly higher TAT values than controls and that increased TAT levels correlate with increased TSH levels.
authors: Departments of Internal MedicineRadiologyCardiologyFaculty of Medicine, Mevlana University, Konya, Turkey dromerakyurek@gmail.com.
authors: Ömer
authors: Ö
authors: Akyürek
authors: Departments of Internal MedicineRadiologyCardiologyFaculty of Medicine, Mevlana University, Konya, Turkey.
authors: Duran
authors: D
authors: Efe
authors: Departments of Internal MedicineRadiologyCardiologyFaculty of Medicine, Mevlana University, Konya, Turkey.
authors: Zeynettin
authors: Z
authors: Kaya
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000473:pathology*; D000328:Adult; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000473:pathology*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000097:blood; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D013963:Thyroid Hormones; D013972:Thyrotropin