Subclinical hypothyroidism in lithium-treated psychiatric patients in Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran.
We investigated thyroid function in 46 (20 female & 26 male) psychiatric outpatients on lithium treatment by assessing triiodothyronine, thyroxine and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels. The presence of thyroid antibodies (anti-thyroid peroxidase and anti-thyroglobulin) was also assessed. Out of the 46 patients, 8 (17%) displayed overt hypothyroidism. Of the remaining patients, subclinical hypothyroidism was found in 16 patients (35%) and euthyroidism in 22 (48%). Thyroid antibodies were present in 6 patients in the euthyroid group and 5 patients in the hypothyroid group. The Pearsor product-moment correlation results indicated positive association between TSH level and duration of lithium use and age of the patients with subclinical hypothyroidism. Duration of lithium use and age could be a reasonable indicator for screening asymptomatic patients for subclinical hypothyroidism after starting lithium treatment.
Aliasgharpour
M
M
National Reference Laboratory of Iran, World Health Organization Collaborating Centre, Biochemistry Trace Elements Analysis Laboratory, Bou-Ali Hospital, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran. mehri9@yahoo.com
Abbassi
M
M
Shafaroodi
H
H
Razi
F
F
D017677:Age Distribution; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018692:Antimanic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016903:Drug Monitoring; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D018828:Immunoglobulins, Thyroid-Stimulating / Q000097:blood; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D016651:Lithium Carbonate / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy; D012307:Risk Factors; D013960:Thyroid Function Tests; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood; D013997:Time Factors; D014284:Triiodothyronine / Q000097:blood; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D018692:Antimanic Agents; D018828:Immunoglobulins, Thyroid-Stimulating; D014284:Triiodothyronine; D016651:Lithium Carbonate; D013972:Thyrotropin; D013974:Thyroxine