Effects of levothyroxine replacement therapy on parameters of metabolic syndrome and atherosclerosis in hypothyroid patients: a prospective pilot study.

Zoran Gluvic,Ratko Tomasevic,Emina Sudar,Esma R Isenovic,Jelena Tica,Sonja Zafirovic,Aleksandra Jovanovic

doi:10.1155/2015/147070

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of levothyroxine (LT4) replacement therapy during three months on some parameters of metabolic syndrome and atherosclerosis in patients with increased thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) level. This study included a group of 30 female patients with TSH level >4 mIU/L and 15 matched healthy controls. Intima media complex thickness (IMCT) and peak systolic flow velocity (PSFV) of superficial femoral artery were determined by Color Doppler scan. In hypothyroid subjects, BMI, SBP, DBP, and TSH were significantly increased versus controls and decreased after LT4 administration. FT4 was significantly lower in hypothyroid subjects compared with controls and significantly higher by treatment. TC, Tg, HDL-C, and LDL-C were similar to controls at baseline but TC and LDL-C were significantly decreased by LH4 treatment. IMCT was significantly increased versus controls at baseline and significantly reduced by treatment. PSFV was similar to controls at baseline and significantly decreased on treatment. In this study, we have demonstrated the effects of LT4 replacement therapy during three months of treatment on correction of risk factors of metabolic syndrome and atherosclerosis.

Highlights

Hypothyroidism is a clinical syndrome caused by thyroid hormone (TH) deficiency, due to reduced production, deranged distribution, or lack of TH effects [1, 2]
We have demonstrated the effects of LT4 replacement therapy during three months of treatment on correction of risk factors of metabolic syndrome and atherosclerosis
In this study we have demonstrated the effects of LT4 replacement therapy during three months of treatment, on correction of risk factors for metabolic syndrome and atherosclerosis

Summary

Introduction

Hypothyroidism is a clinical syndrome caused by thyroid hormone (TH) deficiency, due to reduced production, deranged distribution, or lack of TH effects [1, 2]. Hypothyroidism is characterized by decreased metabolic rate and by a serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) above the upper reference limit [3]. SH represents a condition of mild to moderate thyroid failure characterized by normal levels of TH with mildly elevated TSH concentrations, with or without clinical symptoms [8,9,10]. SH can be divided into two categories, depending on the magnitude of the increase in serum TSH level, with concentrations of 4.5–10 mU/L considered as a mild disease and with concentration of TSH >10 mU/L considered as a severe disease [4, 11]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion