Effect of restoration of euthyroidism on peripheral blood cells and erythropoietin in women with subclinical hypothyroidism.
BACKGROUND
In overt hypothyroidism (OH) anemia is common, while less frequently basophilia has been described. In subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH), however, data on the distribution of peripheral blood cells are lacking. Therefore, we evaluated the effects of L-T4 replacement therapy on peripheral blood elements in female patients with SCH before and after restoration of euthyroidism in a randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled study.


METHODS
Sixty-six women with SCH (TSH 12.9 +/- 8.2 mU/L) were randomly assigned to receive L-thyroxine or placebo for 48 weeks. 63 of the 66 women completed the study. Peripheral blood cells were measured at baseline and 48 weeks after L-thyroxine or placebo treatment, respectively.


RESULTS
The percentage of lymphocytes decreased (p<0.05), whereas percent of monocytes (p<0.05) and eosinophiles (p<0.05) increased significantly upon restoration of euthyroidism after 48 weeks. Hemoglobin and hematocrit remained unchanged throughout the study period. However, erythropoietin levels increased significantly (p<0.01) during L-T4 treatment. In the placebo group all parameters remained unchanged throughout the study.


CONCLUSIONS
Overall, we observed subtle alterations of the leuco-lympho-monocytic distribution of the peripheral blood cells upon restoration of euthyroidism in patients with SCH. Hemoglobin and Hematocrit remained unchanged; however, the increasing level of erythropoietin during L-T4 treatment suggests an already stimulated, yet compensated erythropoietic system in mild thyroid failure.
Christ-Crain
Mirjam
M
Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Clinical Nutrition, Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospitals, CH-4031 Basel, Switzerland. christmj@bluewin.ch
Meier
Christian
C
Huber
Peter
P
Zulewski
Henryk
H
Staub
Jean-Jacques
JJ
Müller
Beat
B