Subclinical hypothyroidism and dyslipidemia in pre- eclampsia

Aim: To investigate the thyroid function and lipid profile in pre-eclamptic patients and to assess the possible association between subclinical thyroid alterations and dyslipidemia in the pathophysiology of pre-eclampsia. Subjects and Thirty pre-eclamptic patients were selected from the Shatby Hospital [15 with severe pre-eclampsia [group I], and 15 with mild disease [group II]]. Twenty five healthy normotensive volunteer women were enrolled as controls [15 pregnant [group III] and 10 non-pregnant [group IV]]. The following parameters were estimated in serum: thyroid stimulating hormone [TSH], free thyroxine [FT4], and the lipid profile [TC, TG, HDL-C]. LDL-C, VLDL-C and TC/HDL-C ratio were calculated. In addition, serum thyroid peroxidase auto-antibodies [TPO-ABs] were detected. Mean serum TSH was significantly elevated, while FT4 was significantly decreased in group I and II. The frequency of TPO-ABs positivity was [16.7%] in pre-eclamptic cases. TC was significantly elevated in both group I and II. TG was also elevated in them reaching significant levels in group II, while HDL-C was significantly decreased in group I. TSH was significantly negatively correlated with FT4 and positively with both TC and TG in pre-eclamptic cases. Conclusions: The disruption of thyroid hormone homeostasis during pregnancy due to subclinical alterations in thyroid function and the associated hyperlipidemia may play a role in the pathophysiology of pre-eclampsia

Role of leptin in premenopa usal and postmenopausal obese women

Leptin, the product of ob gene, is thought to play a key role in the regulation of body fat mass, body weight and energy expenditure . Malfunction of this mechanism could lead to obesity. Thirty six healthy obese females with body mass index [BMI]>27 Kg/m[2] were divided into two groups: premenopausal and postmenopausal group, each group is further subdivided according to waist to hip ratio [WHR] into upper body [android] and tower body [gynoid] obese groups. Control groups with matching age were taken. Anthropometric parameters [weight, height, BMI, WHR], serum leptin, testosterone, lipids and lipoproteins were determined for all groups. In premenopausal females one way AN OVA test revealed significant differences in leptin, testosterone, BMI, WHR, triglycerides and VLDL between the three groups. In postmenopausal females the significant difference was found in leptin, testosterone, weight, height, BMI and WHR. Positive correlations between leptin and BMI [r =0.81, p<0.05] and WHR [r=0.78, p<0.05] were found in the android premenopausal female group.Leptin is also correlated positively with testosterone in the gynoid premenopausal group [r =0.86, p <0.05] but negatively in the android postmenopausal female group [r=-0.76, p<0.05]. The above data suggest hyperleptinemia and leptin resistance in the two types of obesity but the association between leptin and body fat content was found to be in the android premenopausal group only, the same group showed hypertriglyceridemia and increase in VLDL indicating that premenopausal females with higher WHR are more liable to cardiovascular risks