Assessment of plasma catecholamines in patients with dysmetabolic iron overload syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Dysmetabolic iron overload syndrome (DIOS) is characterized by hyperferritinemia and normal transferrin saturation level with components of metabolic syndrome (MS). Among cases of MS, we determined those with DIOS and their characterizations, then we evaluated the association between plasma catecholamines status and hypertension in DIOS. METHODS: We compared 101 hypertensive patients with 50 healthy participants (control group). Iron (iron, transferrin, and ferritin), insulin, and plasma catecholamine (adrenaline, noradrenaline, and dopamine), profiles were measured for both groups. Homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance index and transferrin saturation were also calculated. RESULTS: Out of 101 hypertensive patients, 64 were diagnosed with MS, and 6 of the latter met the DIOS diagnostic criteria. Significantly, DIOS patients were older and had lower body mass index (BMI) compared with hypertensive non-DIOS patients with p-values of (0.026), and (0.033), respectively. Adrenaline, noradrenaline, and dopamine levels did not differ significantly between DIOS and non-DIOS patients. CONCLUSIONS: Of the MS patients, 9.3% were diagnosed with DIOS. Accordingly, complete iron profiling should be performed routinely in the cases of MS for early diagnosis of DIOS, to prevent future complications. Further studies are required to test the hypothesis linking older age and lower BMI with the pathogenesis of DIOS.

Vitamin D status in Hashimoto's thyroiditis and its association with vitamin D receptor genetic variants.

BACKGROUND: Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) is considered the predominant cause of hypothyroidism in iodine sufficient countries. The deficiency of 25-OH-vitamin D3 serum level and the variation of vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene were implicated in a number of autoimmune disorders. This study aimed to test the hypothesis linking between VDR FokI and BsmI variants and HT, in addition to explain their impact on 25-OH-vitamin D3 serum level. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cross sectional study included 160 hypothyroid subjects, 112 patients with HT and 48 hypothyroid non-HT controls. They were diagnosed based on anti-TPO Ab and or anti-TG Ab results. All cases were subjected to full history taking, thyroid ultrasound examination and a panel of assays (TSH, f.T3, f.T4, anti-TPO Ab, anti-TG Ab, calcium, alkaline phosphatase and phosphate). Serum 25-OH-vitamin D3 was assayed using HPLC-UV method. VDR variants (FokI and BsmI) were genotyped using real-time PCR. RESULTS: FokI AA genotype was statistically higher in HT patients than control group (P value = 0.02) with subsequently higher serum 25-OH-vitamin D3 level in comparison to all other genotypes (P value = 0.039). Serum 25-OH-vitamin D3 level was statistically indifferent between HT and control group (P value = 0.223). A statistically significant increase in total thyroid volume was observed in HT group (P value = 0.002). CONCLUSION: FokI AA genotype is more associated with HT in Egyptian patients compared to hypothyroid non-HT controls. Moreover, patients with FokI AA genotype have statistically higher levels of 25-OH-vitamin D3 suggesting VDR dysfunction even in patients expressing normal level of vitamin D.