Lejla Čano Dedić*1,  Arzija Pašalić 2, Emsel Papić2, Dalila Smajlović3, Sabina Šegalo2

1 University of Sarajevo, Faculty of Health Studies, Polyclinic Atrium Sarajevo

2 University of Sarajevo, Faculty of Health Studies

3 Institute for Health Protection of Employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Sarajevo Canton

*Corresponding author: Lejla Čano Dedić University of Sarajevo, Faculty of Health Studies, Polyclinic Atrium Sarajevo, Sarajevo Bosnia and Herzegovina, email:lejla.cano.dedic@fzs.unsa.ba

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17532/dzn.2023.025

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Hypothyroidism is a common disorder of the endocrine system caused by insufficient biologically active hormones at the tissue level or the inability of the tissue to utilize thyroid hormones. Iron plays a crucial role in the synthesis and metabolism of thyroid hormones, and it is stored in the body as ferritin. We aimed to evaluate the correlation between serum ferritin levels and thyroid hormone panel levels in both hypothyroid and euthyroid subjects.

Material and methods: In 2022, a matched case-control study was conducted. The study involved participants with hypothyroidism and a control group (n = 53). The levels of thyrotropin (TSH), free triiodothyronine (fT3), free thyroxine (ft4), and serum ferritin (SF) were measured using the chemiluminescence immunoassay (CLIA) on a Mindray Cl 900-i analyzer (Shenzhen Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics Co., China).

Results: The hypothyroid group had TSH levels that were significantly higher [10.76 (8.54-18.76) vs. 1.76 (1.26-2.58); p <0.001] and SF concentrations that were significantly lower [39.08 (21.15-45.70) vs. 54.09 (41.41-71.82); p <0.001] compared to the control group. In both male and female subjects of the hypothyroid group, a strong negative correlation was found between SF concentration and TSH levels [(Rho = -0.855, p <0.01); (Rho = -0.747; p <0.01)]. In female subjects of the hypothyroid group, a weak positive correlation was found between SF concentration and fT3 (Rho = 0.488; p <0.05). In the euthyroid group, a correlation of the same strength and direction was found for fT4 (Rho = 0.366; p <0.05).

Conclusion: Research results indicate a correlation between lower serum ferritin concentrations and hypothyroidism, which is of particular importance for understanding the etiopathogenesis, diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment modalities of patients with hypothyroidism.

Keywords: hypothyroid, ferritin, thyrotropin, triiodothyronine, thyroxine