relation between serum vitamin D levels and hashimoto thyroiditis in women

Objective: Vitamin D has immunomodulatory effects which suggest a possible association between low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25-OH D[3]] levels and autoimmune thyroid diseases. This study was conducted to investigate such a relation between low serum 25-OH D[3] levels and Hashimoto thyroiditis [HT]

Design: Prospective, case-control study

Setting: Internal Medicine Clinic of Sakarya University, Turkey

Subjects: Serum 25-OH D[3] levels were measured in 498 women presented to the outpatient clinic for routine history and physical examination. Thyroid hormones and antibodies were obtained in all patients. Thyroid ultrasonography was performed in antibody positive patients

Intervention: Blood tests and neck ultrasound

Main outcome measures: Vitamin D levels in Hashimoto Thyroiditis

Results: Serum 25-OH D[3] levels were significantly lower in patients with at least one thyroid antibody positive, compared to thyroid antibody negative patients [P = 0.013]. Serum 25-OH D[3] levels were also lower in antithyroglobine [TgAb] positive patients compared to antibody negative patients [P = 0.010]. There was a statistically significant negative correlation between anti-TgAb and serum 25-OH D[3] levels [P < 0.001]. There was no statistically significant difference in serum 25-OH D[3] levels between anti-thyroid peroxidase positive [TPOAb] patients and antibody negative patients [P = 0.643]

Conclusion: Women with HT thyroiditis have lower vitamin D levels compared to women without HT thyroiditis. We determined that serum 25-OH D[3] insufficiency was 1.7 times more likely to be present in patients with HT. This insufficiency may increase the risk of HT disease

Association between the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, a new marker of systemic inflammation, and restless legs syndrome

<p><b>INTRODUCTION</b>Restless legs syndrome (RLS), also known as Willis-Ekbom disease, is characterised by abnormal sensations in the legs as well as dysaesthesia. Although the aetiology of RLS has not yet been determined, it may be associated with systemic inflammation. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a new and simple marker indicating systemic inflammation. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between systemic inflammation and RLS through the use of the NLR.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 75 newly diagnosed patients with RLS and 56 healthy control subjects were included in the study. Baseline NLR was calculated by dividing the absolute neutrophil count by the absolute lymphocyte count. The NLRs of the two groups were compared.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were no significant differences in gender and age between the two groups. The NLR was 1.96 ± 0.66 in the patient group and 1.67 ± 0.68 in the control group (p = 0.005). Receiver operating characteristic analysis was performed to determine the cut-off value of NLR to predict RLS. The NLR was predictive at 1.58 with a 64% sensitivity and 50% specificity (95% confidence interval 0.55-0.74, area under curve 0.648 ± 0.05). The NLR was found to be statistically higher in patients with RLS and may be used to predict RLS.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The aetiology of RLS remains undetermined. The present study showed that systemic inflammation may play a role in RLS. However, RLS could also be associated with systemic inflammatory diseases. This relationship is supported by high NLR values, which are related to chronic systemic inflammation.</p>