Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Medicine - Department of Internal Medicine

Thyroid diseases are among the most common endocrinological disorders. Cardiovascular diseases are the main causes of death in the world. Atherosclerosis is a major contributor to this problem. As matrix metalloproteinases have a major role in atherosclerosis, we investigated the relationship between MMP-10 and severity of atherosclerosis in patients with hypothyroidism. This was evaluated in a study of 20 patients with controlled hypothyroidism, 20 patients with uncontrolled hypothyroidism and 20 normal controls. The severity of atherosclerosis was estimated with carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) by carotid ultrasound. Serum levels of the matrix metalloproteinase-10 (MMP-10) were measured by ELISA.The severity of the atherosclerosis was more prevalent in the uncontrolled hypothyroidism group. MMP 10 levels were increased in patients with hypothyroidism compared with the normal control group, and significantly higher in uncontrolled hypothyroidism patients than in controlled hypothyroidism. Also we found significant positive correlation between atherosclerosis and MMP 10 level in both controlled and uncontrolled hypothyroidism patients Thus indicating that MMP- 10 may represent a new biomarker of atherosclerosis in this clinical setting

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