Subclinical hypothyroidism and dyslipidemia in pre- eclampsia

ABSTRACT

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