Lower early morning plasma cortisol levels are associated with thyroid autoimmunity in the elderly

Abstract

Objectives: Thyroid autoimmunity decreases in the very old. We investigated whether glucocorticoid (GC) activity, which increases in old age, is involved in this process. Subjects and methods: A total of 321 ambulatory subjects (age 51-95 years, median 71, 207 female) were studied. Thyroid function tests, cortisol, glucose, insulin and biochemical parameters were measured. A modified overnight dexamethasone suppression test (0.25 mg) was performed as an index of GC sensitivity. Results: Forty subjects had positive anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies and 36 had positive antithyroglobulin antibodies, while 57 had either one or the other or both thyroid autoantibodies (ThAbs) positive. Mean basal cortisol levels were significantly lower in the ThAbs (C) groups (320G125 vs 378G128 nmol/l, PZ0.002). Triiodothyronine, free thyroxine, post-dexamethasone cortisol levels, C-reactive protein, homeostasis model assessment-insulin-resistance-index and body mass index did not differ between these two groups. Mean age of ThAbs (C) subjects was lower compared to the ThAbs (K) group (67.38G7.38 vs 71.64G8.57 years, PZ0.001). Conclusions: Reduced GC activity is associated with an increased prevalence of ThAbs positivity in older ambulatory subjects. Subjects without ThAbs in this population sample are relatively older. It is not known whether this is related to increasing GC activity with age.

Rosacea is Associated with Thyroid Autoimmunity: A Case Control Study

“…Scores of 0-3 (0, absent; 1, mild; 2, moderate; 3, severe) were assigned to each category, and patients were divided into mild (range, 0-9), moderate (10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18), and severe (19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27) groups (14,15).…”

Evaluation of Xerostomia and salivary flow rate in Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis

“…One of the most common causes of hypothyroidism is Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis (HT), an autoimmune disease of the thyroid gland and a typical example of an organ-specific autoimmune disorder ( 1 , 2 ).…”

Associations of maternal oestradiol, cortisol, and TGF‐β1 plasma concentrations with thyroid autoantibodies during pregnancy and postpartum

“…Cortisol favours the Th1 to Th2 shift resulting thus, to decrease of Th1‐related autoimmune phenomena, while it has a direct positive effect on Th2 cells by up‐regulating the production of the Th2‐associated cytokines IL‐4, IL‐10, and IL‐13 . Peripheral blood cortisol concentrations are lower in Hashimoto's thyroiditis patients as well as in elderly subjects with positive anti‐thyroid antibodies (either anti‐TPO or anti‐Tg) compared to euthyroid controls . TGF‐β exerts broad anti‐inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects .…”

“…[24][25][26] Peripheral blood cortisol concentrations are lower in Hashimoto's thyroiditis patients as well as in elderly subjects with positive anti-thyroid antibodies (either anti-TPO or anti-Tg) compared to euthyroid controls. 27,28 TGFβ exerts broad anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects. 29 Plasma TGF-β1 concentrations are decreased in women suffering Hashimoto thyroiditis and remain unchanged after thyroxine replacement.…”