FABP4 levels in hypothyroidism and its relationship with subclinical atherosclerosis

Abstract

Background/aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate the relationship between serum fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4) levels and carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) in patients with hypothyroidism. Materials and methods: Forty subclinical hypothyroidism patients, 40 overt hypothyroidism patients, and 40 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. Blood pressure, body mass index, CIMT, fasting blood sugar, creatine, alanine aminotransferase, lipid parameters, insulin, free thyroxine, triiodothyronine, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), thyroid peroxidase antibody (anti-TPO), thyroglobulin antibody (anti-TG), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (Hs-CRP), and FABP4 levels of all participants were measured. Results: Serum FABP4 levels were significantly higher in patients with subclinical and overt hypothyroidism than healthy controls (HCs) (P = 0.044 and P = 0.014, respectively). There was no significant difference in terms of FABP4 levels between patients with subclinical and overt hypothyroidism (P = 0.641). Serum TSH levels and serum FABP4 levels were positively correlated (r = 0.201, P = 0.039). CIMT was found to be higher in patients with subclinical and overt hypothyroidism than in HCs (P = 0.042 and P < 0.001, respectively). No correlation was found between CIMT and FABP4 levels (r = 0.038, P = 0.702). There was a positive correlation between CIMT and TSH, anti-TPO, anti-TG, triglycerides (TG), and total cholesterol levels. It was found that high TG levels were an independent factor that increased CIMT (r = 0.382, r 2 = 0.146). Conclusion: In patients with subclinical and overt hypothyroidism, the level of FABP4 increases and this increase is correlated with the increase in TSH level. It is thought that FABP4 does not play a role in atherosclerosis development in patients with hypothyroidism without metabolic disorder.

Hypothyroidism does not lead to worse prognosis in COVID-19: findings from the Brazilian COVID-19 registry

“…As for the higher prevalence of coronary artery disease, the association between hypothyroidism and increased cardiovascular risk is controversial when thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) is normal (Decandia F, 2018). Nonetheless, it was demonstrated that patients with underlying hypothyroidism with a poor disease control have a worse lipidic profile and a higher prevalence of atherosclerosis, since thyroid hormones regulate lipid metabolism, especially TSH (Kotwal A, 2020;Tan M, 2019;Delitala AP, 2017). At the same time, it is well established that a key-factor for adverse cardiovascular events prevention in patients with hypothyroidism is the achievement of symptom control, as well as levels of TSH and T4…”

Hypothyroidism does not lead to worse prognosis in COVID-19: findings from the Brazilian COVID-19 registry

“…26 Nonetheless, it was demonstrated that patients with underlying hypothyroidism with a poor disease control have a worse lipidic profile and a higher prevalence of atherosclerosis, since thyroid hormones regulate lipid metabolism, especially TSH. 27,28,29 At the same time, it is well established that a key-factor for adverse cardiovascular events prevention in patients with hypothyroidism is the achievement of symptom control, as well as levels of TSH and T4 within the reference values with the use of hormonal replacement therapy. 30 Another hypothesis to explain the higher frequency of coronary artery disease is the higher prevalence of chronic kidney disease, which is associated with increased cardiovascular risk.…”

Thyroid Dysfunction and Atherosclerosis: A Systematic Review

“…Median IMT was higher in SH subjects than in euthyroid ones (p<0.0001). Tan et al (24) have found that CIMT is higher in patients with subclinical and overt hypothyroidism than healthy controls (p=0.042 and p<0.001, respectively), concluding that there is a positive correlation between CIMT and TSH. They also found that high thyroglobulin levels were an independent factor that increased CIMT.…”