Effects of thyroxine on the level of serum homocysteine and urinary albumin excretion rate in elderly patients with early diabetic nephropathy and subclinical hypothyroidism

Abstract

Objective To investigate the Effects of thyroxine on the level of serum homocysteine and urinary albumin excretion rate in elderly patients with early diabetic nephropathy and subclinical hypothyroidism.Methods Seventy-five patients with early diabetic nephropathy and subclinical hypothyroidism were randomly divided into levothyroxine treatment group and conventional treatment group.Urinary albumin excretion rate (UAER),serum levels of homocysteine,creatinine,and lipids were measured at both pre-and post-treatment of 48 weeks.Results After treatment,serum total cholesterol,low density lipoprotein-cholesterol,triglyceride,thyrotropin,homocysteine,UAER,and serum creatinine in the levothyroxine treatment group were significantly lower than those in the conventional treatment group [(-0.52 ± 0.12 vs 0.31 ± 0.40) mmol/L,(-0.33 ± 0.22 vs 0.24 ± 0.36) mmol/L,(-0.16±0.18 vs0.19±0.29)mmol/L,(-4.4 ± 1.2 vs 1.2 ±0.8)mIU/L,(-1.4 ±2.0 vs0.9± 1.0)mmol/L,(-13 ± 13 vs 10 ± 7) pg/ml,(-2 ± 2 vs 3 ± 2) μmoL/L,respectively,all P＜0.01].Conclusions Treatment with levothyroxine could significantly improve serum lipid profiles and reduce homocysteine,UAER,and creatinine,and exert a protective effect on the kidney in the elderly patients with early diabetic nephropathy and subclinical hypothyroidism. Key words: Diabetic nephropathy ; Hypothyroidism; Homocysteine ; Urinary albumin excretion rate