Effect of race, gender and age on thyroid and thyroid stimulating hormone levels in North West Frontier Province, Pakistan.

BACKGROUND: Thyroid is one of the ductless endocrine gland, which is located immediately below the larynx on either side of and anterior to the trachea. The principal hormones of thyroid gland are thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). The current study was carried out to investigate the impact of race, gender and area on the levels of Thyroxine (T4), Triiodothyronine (T3) and Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) in normal healthy individuals. METHODS: Serum levels of T4, T3 and TSH in 498 normal healthy individuals belonging to different districts of North West Frontier Province, Pakistan, were examined. Serum T4 and T3 were analysed by Radio Immuno Assay (RIA) method whereas TSH was estimated by Immunoradiometric assay (IRMA) method. RESULTS: Levels of T4, T3 and TSH ranged from 53 to 167 etamol/L, 0.6 to 3.1 etamol/L and 0.3-4.8 microIU/L respectively. The levels of these hormones show significant change from the reference values that are used in clinical laboratories as well as in Institute of Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine (IRNUM), Peshawar, Pakistan. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that the age, gender, race and area, all have an appreciable effect on the levels T4, T3 and TSH.

Inherited dyslipidaemic disorders contributing to coronary heart disease.

BACKGROUND: Lipoprotein (a) [Lp (a)] is an established independent risk factor for premature myocardial infarction (MI)/coronary artery disease (CAD). The study was conducted to determine the value of Lp (a) in prediction of CAD or MI in the offspring at risk. METHODS: A total of 160 subjects were investigated. Serum Lp (a) was measured by ELISA, serum total cholesterol, triglycerides (TG) and HDL-Cholesterol by enzymatic colorimetric methods using standard kits. RESULTS: Differences in levels of total Lp (a) and cholesterol were observed between patients and controls. Both Lp (a) (16.23 +/-1.95 mg/dL) and cholesterol (175.00 +/- 7.60 mg/dL) of group A (patients) were higher than the corresponding controls. However an opposite trend in results was noted for serum HDL-Cholesterol in patients vs. controls. CONCLUSION: Persons found to have elevated levels of Lp (a) should focus on controlling the known modifiable risk factor for heart disease, especially smoking, hypercholesterolemia, obesity, hypertension and sedentary life style.