July - September 2012, Volume 8, Issue 3

Koroglu BK, Bagci O, Ersoy IH, Aksu O, Balkarli A, Alanoglu E, Tamer MN

Effects of Levothyroxine Treatment on Cardiovascular Risk Profile and Carotid Intima Media Thickness in Patients with Subclinica Hypothyroidism

Acta Endo (Buc) 2012, 8 (3): 433-442
doi: 10.4183/aeb.2012.433

Background. Although cardiovascular risk is increased in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH), replacement therapy is not recommended in those with TSH levels\r\nbetween 5 and 10 mU/L.\r\nObjective. We aimed to evaluate the effects of levothyroxine (LT4) treatment on cardiovascular risk factors and carotid artery intima media thickness (CIMT) in patients with SCH who had TSH levels between 5 and 10 mU/L.\r\nSubjects and Methods. Sixty SCH patients with TSH levels between 5 and 10 mU/L were included in the study. Patients\r\nwere randomized into two groups as treatment (n=30) and control (n=30) groups. BMI, blood pressure, lipid profile, fibrinogen, homocysteine, hs-CRP and CIMT were measured in all patients at baseline and after six months. LT4 treatment was initiated and the dose was tapered according to TSH levels in treatment.\r\nResults. There was no significant difference between baseline and six month measurements in the control group. However, TSH, LDL-C, fibrinogen and mean CIMT measurements were decreased and HDL-C level was increased in the treatment group.\r\nConclusions. We suggest that LT4 therapy is necessary for the prevention of modifiable cardiovascular risk factors in\r\npatients with TSH levels between 5 and 10 mU/L.

Keywords: subclinical hypothyroidism, cardiovascular risk profile, carotid intima media thickness

Correspondence: Ismail Ersoy, S?leyman Demirel University - Department of Internal Medicine, S?leyman Demirel Universitesi Hastanesi Ic Hastaliklari AD Cunur/ Turkiye Isparta 32200, Turkey,\r\nemail: hakkiersoy@gmail.com