This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 92/2/608    most recent Author Manuscript (PDF) Submit a related Letter to the Editor Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Copyright Permission Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Ito, M. Articles by Miyauchi, A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Ito, M. Articles by Miyauchi, A. Related Collections Thyroid Lipid

Effect of Levo-Thyroxine Replacement on Non-High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol in Hypothyroid Patients

Kuma Hospital (M.I., T.A., T.K., E.N., H.O., S.K., S.F., N.A., K.K., A.M.), Kobe-City, Hyogo 650-0011, Japan; the First Department of Medicine (I.S., T.Hi., T.Ha.), Osaka Medical College, Takatsuki-City, Osaka 569-8686, Japan; and Takamatsu Thyroid Clinic (J.T.), Takatsuki-City, Osaka 569-0804, Japan

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Dr. Mitsuru Ito, Kuma Hospital, 8-2-35, Shimoyamate-dori, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0011, Japan. E-mail: ito02{at}kuma-h.or.jp.

Context: Recently, non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C), a measure of total cholesterol minus HDL-C, has emerged as a predictor of cardiovascular disease.

Objective: We evaluated the effect of L-T₄ replacement on non-HDL-C levels in patients with primary hypothyroidism.

Methods: Thirteen patients with overt hypothyroidism and 26 patients with subclinical hypothyroidism participated in the study. The lipid profiles, including non-HDL-C, were measured in patients with hypothyroidism before and 3 months after L-T₄ replacement was started.

Results: After L-T₄ replacement, the serum concentrations of all lipoproteins, exclusive of lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)], were significantly decreased in patients with overt hypothyroidism. In patients with subclinical hypothyroidism, the serum concentrations of total cholesterol, non-HDL-C, remnant-like particle cholesterol, and apolipoprotein B (Apo B) were significantly decreased, whereas no significant changes in the serum concentrations of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, HDL-C, triglycerides, apolipoprotein A-I, and Lp(a) were observed. In all 39 patients, the reduction in the non-HDL-C levels correlated with the reduction in the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, remnant-like particle cholesterol, and Apo B levels. However, the reduction in the non-HDL-C levels did not correlate with the reduction in the HDL-C, Lp(a), and apolipoprotein A-I levels.

Conclusions: This study is the first to show that L-T₄ replacement may reduce serum concentrations of non-HDL-C in patients with hypothyroidism. The study also suggests that such altered serum concentrations of non-HDL-C in hypothyroidism may be related to the disturbed metabolism of low-density lipoprotein, remnant lipoprotein, and Apo B.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				B. Vaidya and S. H S Pearce Management of hypothyroidism in adults BMJ, July 28, 2008; 337(jul28_1): a801 - a801. [Full Text]

				B. Biondi and D. S. Cooper The Clinical Significance of Subclinical Thyroid Dysfunction Endocr. Rev., February 1, 2008; 29(1): 76 - 131. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]