Anuja Beralkar, Sourya Acharya, Sakshi Gagneja, Samarth Shukla, Sunil Kumar, Anil Wanjari
BACKGROUND The present study entitled “Carotid Intima Media Thickness in Hypothyroidism” was conducted in the department of General medicine, A.V.B.R.H and J.N.M.C, Sawangi, Meghe, Wardha. C-IMT was measured by recording ultrasonographic images of both the left and right common carotid artery with a 7â??MHz linear array transducer. Patients were examined in the supine position, with the head turned 45° from the side during the scanning procedure. The aim of the study is to evaluate carotid intima media thickness (C-IMT) in hypothyroidism. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study included 100 cases of newly detected hypothyroidism not on thyroid replacement therapy, and 50 matched healthy controls. Body mass index (BMI), thyroid profile, lipids, blood pressure and the mean of C-IMT were determined. RESULTS Mean values of C-IMT, triglycerides, and total cholesterol were significantly high in hypothyroidism group versus controls. Carotid intima-media thickness was significantly increased in SCH and overt hypothyroidism group as compared to controls (p <0.001). On comparing all independent variables like BMI, lipids and blood pressure with dependent variable C-IMT, statistically significant difference was found with FT4 (p=0.024), TSH (p=0.041) and with HDL (p=0.021). CONCLUSION In overt and subclinical hypothyroidism groups, values of diastolic blood pressure (DBP), triglycerides (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL) were deranged. All these may contribute to atherosclerosis and an increase in C-IMT, causing potential risk for future cardiovascular disease, stroke. So, hypothyroidism group having deranged lipid profile and other risk factors like obesity should be screened for atherosclerosis by measuring C-IMT. This group can be targeted for primary prevention of coronary artery diseases (CAD) and its early management like lipid lowering agents apart from being treated for hypothyroidism.
