Features of C-Reactive Protein Production Dependence on the Presence of Thyreopathy in Children with Obesity

Determination of the activity of low-intensity inflammation in children with obesity is an urgent task due to its possible pathogenetic role in the formation of thyropathies which may aggravate the course of the disease and cause additional adverse effects of obesity and early formation of metabolic syndrome. The purpose of the research was to determine the nature of C-reactive protein production in obese children with associated thyropathies. Materials and methods. Level of C-reactive protein was assessed in 82 children with obesity aged between 6 and 16 years depending on the gender of patients and the presence of concomitant thyropathies (diffuse non-toxic goiter, autoimmune thyroiditis, and minimal changes in the structure of thyroid gland). Results and Discussion. The mean CRP levels in the group of patients with obesity and thyropathy were significantly higher (3.9 ± 1.5 mg / l) vs. the group of patients without thyropathy (2.0 ± 0.7 mg / l) and vs. control (0.89 ± 0.25 mg / l, p <0.05). Elevated CRP level> 2.0 mg / l in obese children was more often detected for combination of insulin resistance with thyropathy (53.3%) compared with a group of patients with thyrotopathy without insulin resistance (41.4%, p <0.05). In case of diffuse nontoxic goiter in boys with obesity elevated CRP levels were twice as likely to be seen in patients with insulin resistance compared to a group of patients without it. Conclusions. Low intensity inflammation is closely related to the formation of thyropathies, primarily diffuse nontoxic goiter, in children with obesity, especially in boys. In girls, elevated CRP levels were associated with the development of autoimmune thyroiditis.