Fetuin-A level in patients with untreated thyroid dysfunction

Fetuin-A, a plasma glycoprotein, has been demonstrated to play an essential role in the pathogene­sis of several metabolic disorders. This study aimed to estimate fetuin-A serum level in patients with newly diagnosed primary hyperthyroidism (PHT) and subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) and to examine its correlation with thyroid hormones level, age and sex of patients. The study involved 90 patients with untreated thyroid dysfunction verified with thyroid function test (45 with PHT and 45 with SCH) and 90 control subjects. Triiodo­thyronin (T3), tetraiodothyronin (T4), and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) serum concentrations were measured with enzyme-linked fluorescent assay (ELFA), fetuin-A concentration was measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). It was demonstrated that the level of fetuin-A was significantly higher in the PHT group as compared with the control group and showed a significant positive correlation with the T3 level. In the SCH group, the level of fetuin-A was significantly lower and showed a negative correlation with TSH level. Fetuin-A level rose with age in the PHT group and was unaffected by sex in all studied groups. The perfect AUC value obtained for fetuin-A in the comparison between PHT and SCH groups suggests its potential use as a reliable diagnostic marker to differentiate between these two thyroid conditions.