Does Subclinical Hypothyroidism Affect Dynamic Thiol / Disulfide Homeostasis and İschemia-modified Albumin Levels in Children?

Objective: To determine the effects of subclinical hypothyroidism on oxidative stress in children.

Study design: A cross-sectional study.

Place and duration of study: Department of Paediatrics, Paediatric Endocrinology, and General Outpatient Clinics, Kirikkale University, School of Medicine, from May 2017 to October 2018.

Methodology: This study included 92 subjects aged between 2 and 18 years. The subjects were divided into two groups. Forty-seven children with subclinical hypothyroidism and 45 healthy controls were evaluated. In order to evaluate oxidative damage, native thiol, total thiol, disulfides, their ratios, and ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) levels were compared between the two groups. The relationship between TSH and IMA levels was assessed.

Results: Age and gender were not significantly different in the two groups. Native thiol, total thiol, disulfides and their ratios were similar in the two groups. Ischemia-modified albumin levels were significantly higher in the patient group than the controls (p<0.001). There was no correlation between TSH and IMA levels in the patient group (r=0.069 p=0.645).

Conclusion: Subclinical hypothyroidism may be related to the impairment of IMA, and have a neutral effect on thiol/disulfide balance. Further research is needed to explain the effects of oxidative stress in subclinical hypothyroidism. Key Words: Subclinical hypothyroidism, Childhood, Oxidative stress.