title: Changes in plasma concentrations of osteoprotegerin before and after levothyroxine replacement therapy in hypothyroid patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recent study has shown that overt hypothyroidism (oHT) is associated with increased plasma osteoprotegerin (OPG) levels.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Our objective was to examine the plasma OPG level alteration before and after levothyroxine (L-T4) treatment in oHT and subclinical hypothyroidism (sHT).
  
  
  METHODS
  The study subjects included oHT and sHT patients and healthy individuals (20 subjects in each group).
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients were given L-T4 therapy to maintain a euthyroid state. Plasma OPG concentration was measured in duplicate by a sandwich ELISA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Plasma OPG levels in oHT and sHT before treatment were significantly higher than levels in controls (P < 0.01). After normalization of thyroid function, OPG levels in both groups decreased markedly (P < 0.01). The absolute changes in OPG showed a significant positive correlation with the changes in TSH (P < 0.05) and negative correlation with the changes in endothelium-dependent arterial dilation (P < 0.01) in hypothyroid patients during the course of treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  OPG may be involved in the development of vascular dysfunction in hypothyroid patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Wuhan General Hospital of Guangzhou Command, Wuluo Road 627, Wuhan 430070, Hubei Province, People's Republic of China. Guangda64@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Xiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Guang-da
authors.forename: Sun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hui-ling
authors.forename: Cheng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhi-song
authors.forename: Zhao
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Lin-shuang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy; D006801:Humans; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017270:Lipoprotein(a) / Q000097:blood; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood; D053244:Osteoprotegerin; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000097:blood*; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000097:blood*; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000378:metabolism; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D006023:Glycoproteins; D017270:Lipoprotein(a); D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D053244:Osteoprotegerin; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; C506030:TNFRSF11B protein, human; D013972:Thyrotropin; D002784:Cholesterol; D013974:Thyroxine