The relationship between homocysteine and autoimmune subclinical hypothyroidism

INTRODUCTION: Homocysteine, an atherosclerotic marker, is thought to be associated with chronic inflammation and autoimmunity. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between the homocysteine level, lipid parameters, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and autoantibodies in subclinical hypothyroid patients.
METHODS: A total of 100 cases, 50 patients who were older than 18 years of age and diagnosed with subclinical hypothyroidism due to Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and 50 controls with no known disease, were included in the study.
RESULTS: Homocysteine (9.6 µmol/L vs 5.5 µmol/L; p<0.001), hs-CRP (2.4 mg/L vs 0.9 mg/L; p<0.001), and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels (115.9±32.7 mg/dL vs 100.3±23.9 mg/dL) (p=0.008) were determined to be higher in the subclinical hypothyroidism group, and the high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol level (51.2±12.7 mg/dL vs 58.8±15.2 mg/dL; p=0.008) was lower in the subclinical hypothyroidism group compared with the healthy control group. A positive correlation was determined between the homocysteine level and the hs-CRP (r=0.312; p=0.027), anti-thyroid peroxidase (r=0.505; p<0.001), and anti-thyroglobulin (r=0.318; p=0.031) levels in the subclinical hypothyroidism group.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: In the regression analysis performed, HDL cholesterol, hs-CRP, and homocysteine levels were each found to be an independent risk factor for subclinical hypothyroidism. Our results indicated that homocysteine was associated with subclinical hypothyroidism.