Hemoglobin, Vitamin D, and lipids in subclinical hypothyroid patients - Do the anti -thyroid autoantibodies titer matters?

Hashimoto's thyroiditis, the commonest cause of hypothyroidism has been proposed as a risk factor for atherosclerosis independent of thyroid function. The aim of this study was to investigate whether Hashimoto's thyroiditis validated by their anti-TPO positivity have any effect on hyperlipidemia, Hemoglobin, Vitamin D independent of thyroid function in newly diagnosed subclinical hypothyroid patients (SCH) subjects with TSH ≤ 10μIU/ml. 40 newly diagnosed SCH and 40 healthy euthyroid controls were included in this study. Based on anti-TPO status, the SCH subjects was divided into TPO positive and negative groups. Serum lipid, hemoglobin and Vitamin D levels were determined and compared between among the TPO positive and negative SCH subjects. Subjects with and without anti-TPO had significant differences in levels of low-density lipoprotein, total cholesterol, and nonHDL cholesterol. In correlation analysis, anti-TPO showed statistically significant association with Hb, LDL and Vitamin D. Subclinical hypothyroidism with thyroid autoimmunity is associated with a marginal decrease in hemoglobin and elevation in LDL. Whether this holds, any bearing on promoting cardiovascular risk needs to be considered further.