Role of autoimmunity in directing clinical cardiovascular & serum lipid changes in primary hypothyroidism

Abstract

A Study was done to investigate the clinical cardiovascular & serum lipid changes in thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPO)-positive with primary hypothyroidism on thyroxine treatment. Fifty four patients (31 females & 23 males) with primary hypothyroidism & on thyroxine treatment with were recruited, their ages ranged 45-65 years. They were divided into 2 groups according to the result of TPO determination, i.e, TPO-positive & TPO negative groups. Results showed that heart rate was significantly decreased while the blood pressure ( both systolic & diastolic ) was significantly increased in TPO-positive group in supine & standing position. Serum total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein and high density lipoprotein was significantly reduced in TPO-positive group while serum triglyceride levels were higher in TPO-positive group when compared with those of the TPO-negative group. In conclusion, cardiovascular abnormalities were evident to be more in TPO-positive patients as compared to the TPO-negative hypothyroid patients. Thus, autoimmunity is implicated in cardiovascular and serum lipid changes in hypothyroidism