Observation on the value of erythrocyte membrane fatty acids in the discrimination of hypothyroidism.

Abstract

A computer-based 3-dimensional representation of two erythrocyte membrane saturated fatty acids (hexadecanoic acid, 16:0 and octadecanoic acid, 18:0), serum cholesterol and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) was performed in 26 hypothyroid patients and in 10 control subjects. The result indicates that a three-dimensional representation of grouped data discriminates normal people from individuals with hypothyroidism in a small population of highly selected cases.