Levels of hs-CRP as a Cardiovascular Risk Factor in Different Groups of Patients with Hypothyroidism

INTRODUCTION: It is known that thyroid function disorders negatively affect all systems, especially the cardiovascular system. In our study, we investigated hs-CRP levels and their relation with metabolic syndrome components between hypothyroid patients who are taking thyroid hormone replacement therapy (THR) and those who are newly diagnosed and haven’t started treatment yet.
METHODS: 124 subclinical and overt hypothyroid patients, 53 healthy controls without known disease, admitted to the Internal Medicine outpatient clinic were enrolled in this cross-sectional, controlled study. Patients were divided into 3 groups. Group 1: taking THR and having normal thyroid test results, Group 2: taking THR but not having targeted thyroid tests, Group 3: Newly diagnosed with hypothyroidism. Blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, glucose, sT4, sT3, TSH, lipid profile, and hs-CRP (nephelometric method, Beckman Coulter Image800 device) were measured.
RESULTS: There was a negative correlation between HDL cholesterol and hs-CRP levels in patients with hypothyroidism (p<0.05). When patients and controls were divided into groups according to their BMI (<25 kg/m² and ≥25 kg/m²) and waist circumference (a border of 88 cm for women, 102 cm for men), there was a statistical difference in hs-CRP levels (p<0.05).
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: In both subclinical and overt hypothyroidism (with/without THR), hs-CRP levels are higher compared to controls, and cardiovascular risk increases. The difference detected in mean hs-CRP levels between the control and patient groups is not correlated with the increase in LDL-cholesterol levels, whereas it is negatively correlated with HDL-cholesterol levels. Both in control and patient groups, hs-CRP levels are affected by obesity. It is important to detect and follow hs-CRP levels in hypothyroidism for cardiac risk, but it is not independent of BMI and waist circumference.