• CD14+ monocytes and cardiovascular risk in patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis.
  • Monire Sadat Fazaeli,1,*
    1. Department of Laboratory sciences, Iranshahr University of Medical Sciences, Iranshahr, Iran


  • Introduction: Hashimoto's thyroiditis is an autoimmune disease that is associated with high cholesterol levels and increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Atherosclerosis is prominently controlled by macrophages and CD14+ cells are proinflammatory monocytes that are expressed mainly by macrophages. In this study, we examine the relationship between CD14+ expression on monocytes and vascular risk.
  • Methods: Data and serum levels of TSH, FT4, Anti-TPO antibody, total cholesterol, LDL, HDL and expression level of CD14 on monocytes from 20 new untreated patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and 20 age- sex- and BMI-matched euthyroid controls were analyzed in a cross-sectional study. Quantification of CD14 expression on monocytes was done by flow cytometry. Lipoprotein ratios (total cholesterol/HDL cholesterol and LDL/HDL cholesterol ratios) were calculated to predict vascular risk. Then the relationships between these parameters were examined.
  • Results: Lipoprotein ratios and CD14 expression on monocytes was significantly higher in patients than in the control group (p = 0•001). There was a significant and positive relationship between Lipoprotein ratios and CD14 expression.
  • Conclusion: We found that CD14+ monocytes were significantly associated with cardiovascular risk in patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis.
  • Keywords: Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, Cluster of differentiation 14, Cardiovascular disease.