3.2 Carotid intima-media thickness at baseline
The carotid intima-media thickness of the RCCA and LCCA was
significantly different in the SCH and OH groups when compared to HC.
(RCCA [mm]: 0.486±0.106, 0.512±0.124 and 0.413±0.075 in SCH, OH and
HC, respectively. LCCA [mm]: 0.511±0.144, 0.500±0.096 and
0.427±0.090 in SCH, OH and HC, respectively. RCCA: SCH vs HC p=0.01, OH
vs HC p=0.01. LCCA: SCH vs HC p=0.03, OH vs HC p=0.03). However, there
was no significant difference in the intima-media between the groups
with hypothyroidism (Table 2).
The SCH group included 13 patients with TSH <10 µIU/ml and
five patients with TSH >10 µIU/ml. There was no significant
difference between the carotid intima-media thickness in relation to the
TSH level (RCCA [mm]: 0.496±0.113 and 0.440±0.022 in TSH less and
greater than 10 µIU/ml, respectively. LCCA [mm]: 0.486±0.107 and
0.574±0.096 in TSH less or greater than 10 µIU/ml, respectively).
In the linear regression analysis, a weak positive correlation was found
between carotid intima-media thickness and the anti-TPO level (p=0.025,
r2=0.123). No correlation was found between carotid
intima-media thickness and age, BMI, waist circumference, WHR, systolic
and diastolic BP, anti-TPO, fasting glycemia, and lipid panel. Even
though glucose and total cholesterol showed a significant difference
among groups, no correlation was found with intima-media thickness.