A STUDY ON SUBCLINICAL HYPOTHYROIDISM AND DYSLIPIDEMIC CHANGES AT CHENNAI MEDICAL COLLEGE HOSPITAL AND RESEARCH CENTRE (CMCHRC), TRICHY.

INTRODUCTION Subclinical hypothyroidism is the condition where there is an elevated Thyroid stimulating  hormone concentration (TSH) in the presence of normal serum free Thyroxine (FT4), Triiodothyronine (FT3) concentrations. There is an association of subclinical hypothyroidism with higher body mass index, diastolic hypertension, increased serum  Cholesterol and Triglycerides levels. It is found that association between adult atherogenic lipid abnormalities and subclinical hypothyroidism in Indian population. With this background, the present study aims to find the prevalence and dyslipidemic changes in subclinical hypothyroidism. AIMS AND  OBJECTIVES 1.To study the prevalence of subclinical   hypothyroidism 2.To assess the association of Subclinical          hypothyroidism and lipid profile MATERIALS AND METHODS Both males and females of age group between 20 -80 years attending the hospital were chosen for the study. Estimation of serum FT3, FT4, TSH were done by ELISA method and estimation of lipid profile by enzymatic method. RESULTS This study is a cross sectional observational study. Duration of the study was one month. The total number of patients enrolled was 200 of which 75 patients were identified as subclinical   hypothyroidism. In the subclinical hypothyroidism group, basal TSH levels were found to be elevated as compared to those in euthyroid subjects. This was statistically significant (p 0.000). Total cholesterol, LDL and triglycerides were higher in subclinical hypothyroidism when compared to euthyroid subjects but these values were not statistically significant. DISCUSSION The present study assessed the prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism and slight dyslipidemic changes, however further studies are needed in longitudinal follow up of subclinical hypothyroid cases to conclude the             outcome of the findings of the study. CONCLUSION In our study we found that lipid profile does not show much variation               between subclinical hypothyroidism and euthyroid subjects. This results indicates that serum TSH was one of the earliest marker of subclinical hypothyroidism, even though T3 and T4 were within normal limits.