A cross-sectional study on fetuin-A, high-sensitivity CRP, and cardiovascular risk in female patients with comorbid type 2 diabetes and hypothyroidism

Ali  abdulateef hasan Al-bayati; Shatha  mj al-khateeb

Authors

Ali abdulateef hasan Al-bayati College of Medicine, Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad, Iraq
Shatha mj al-khateeb College of Medicine, Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad, Iraq

Keywords:

Diabetes and hypothyroidism, fetuin-A, high-sensitivity CRP, lipid profile indices

Abstract

Background: There are growing body of evidence indicating coexistence of hypothyroidism and type 2 diabetes in women despite its prevalence, and it reveals a synergistical adverse consequence of metabolic disturbances.

Objective: Inflammatory biomarkers (fetuin-A and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein [hs-CRP]) were investigated to explore the crosstalk between inflammation and metabolic disturbances in different groups.

Methods: Female participants were divided into four groups: type 2 diabetes (T2D), hypothyroidism, coexistence (T2D and hypothyroidism), and healthy control group. HbA1c and lipid profile were measured, along with various lipid indices including fetuin-A and hs-CRP using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results: In the coexistence group, hs-CRP and fetuin-A were significantly higher (7.1 ± 4.9 mg/L, 712.4 ± 231.5 μg/mL) than in the T2D (5.8 ± 4.1 mg/L, 443.6 ± 198.3 μg/mL) and hypothyroidism groups (3.2 ± 2.8 mg/L, 228.5 ± 112.7 μg/mL; P < 0.001). There was a significant association between inflammatory biomarkers and dyslipidemia indices (fetuin-A and HbA1c: r = 0.44, P < 0.01) and the level of atherogenity (Atherogenic Index of Plasma: r = 0.47, P < 0.001) in dual pathology groups.

Conclusion: The coexistence of diabetes and hypothyroidism demonstrated a synergistic effect on systemic inflammation and metabolic disturbances in these women. Furthermore, the strong association of inflammation and glycemia and triglyceride-rich lipoprotein levels suggests that relying solely on traditional cholesterolrich lipoproteins is not sufficient for assessing atherogenicity. This highlights the need for more modifiable lipid index measures.

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