2. Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Iran 3. Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Iran 4. Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Iran
Abstract
Introduction
It has been proven that serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (ldl-c) levels increase in overt hypothyroidism (oh). but this issue with subclinical hypothyroidism (sh) is still controversial. some studies suggest that sh cannot increase the lipid profile, including ldl-c, but some results suggest that it can be effective in increasing the levels of ldl-c by regulation of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (pcsk9). pcsk9 is a serine protease and a secreted protein which increases cholesterol levels in plasma via inducing degradation of low-density lipoprotein receptor (ldlr). in this study, we examine the levels of ldl-c and pcsk9 and their correlation in sh patients and controls.
Methods
Data and laboratory characteristics including serum tsh, ft4, ldl-c, hdl-c and pcsk9 levels were evaluated from 20 newly diagnosed patients with sh and 20 healthy subjects in a cross-sectional study. then statistical analysis and the correlation between the obtained data were examined.
Results
Serum levels of ldl-c and pcsk9 were significantly higher in the patient group compared to controls, and they have a significant negative correlation with ft4. hdl-c levels in sh patients were not different from the controls.
Conclusion
Our study indicates that ldl-c level increases in sh patients and its level has a significant positive correlation with pcsk9 level.
