A study on dyslipidaemia in subclinical hypothyroidism.

Subclinical hypothyroidism is characterised by elevated serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) concentrations in association with normal free thyroid hormones. The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence and pattern of serum lipid alterations in patients with stable subclinical hypothyroidism in comparison to age- as well as sex-matched euthyroid group and also subgroup analysis between them in regard to age of presentation, sex, antithyroperoxidase (anti TPO) positivity, and TSH value. In this study, 100 patients of SCH were recruited, age ranged 17-68 years, majority (78%) being females, presenting mainly with non-specific symptoms and compared with 52 euthyroid control regarding lipid parameters. Of the subclinical hypothyroidism patients, only 10% had goitre and anti TPO was positive in 52% cases. Serum lipoprotein (a) above the age of 20 years, and total cholesterol, triglyceride and low density liporpotein cholesterol in the age group of 40-50 years were significantly elevated. In addition, total cholesterol, triglyceride and low density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in anti TPO positive cases and serum triglyceride and low density lipoprotein cholesterol in anti TPO negative patients showed statistically significant higher levels. In males only lipoprotein (a), but in females total cholesterol, triglyceride, low density lipoprotein cholesterol and liproprotein (a)--all were significantly elevated.

Rheumatological problems in diabetes mellitus.

Major complications of diabetes mellitus--classified as microvascular and macrovascular, are more or less well understood. But musculoskeletal syndromes of diabetes are not rare and they are a major cause of morbidity. Musculoskeletal pain is a universal experience. Soft tissue rheumatism such as rotator cuff lesion of the shoulder, carpal tunnel syndrome and stenosing tenosynovitis are more common in subjects with diabetes mellitus. Articular musculoskeletal disorders also occur more frequently in diabetes mellitus. Careful history and physical examination are essential in reaching a specific diagnosis. Unnecessary investigations are expensive, may cause anxiety to the patients and if taken out of clinical context, lead to over-diagnosis and over-treatment. This article briefly covers the association between musculoskeletal disorders and diabetes mellitus.