title: Thyroid function abnormalities in HIV-infected patients.
abstract: Abnormal thyroid function test results are common among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients. Although the prevalence of overt thyroid disease does not appear to be significantly increased in HIV-infected patients, compared with the general population, specific patterns of abnormal thyroid function test findings are more frequently identified among HIV-infected patients. Among patients with advanced acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, nonthyroidal illness (i.e., euthyroid sick syndrome) is common. During antiretroviral therapy, the prevalence of 2 generally asymptomatic conditions (subclinical hypothyroidism, which is characterized by isolated elevated thyroid-stimulating hormone levels, and isolated low free thyroxine levels) is increased. In addition, Graves disease, which is marked by low thyroid-stimulating hormone and elevated thyroxine levels, may occur during immune reconstitution. Testing for thyroid disease among symptomatic patients should begin with measurement of the thyroid-stimulating hormone level. However, there is insufficient evidence to recommend routine thyroid screening of asymptomatic HIV-infected individuals. This review summarizes the current evidence regarding the optimal laboratory evaluation of thyroid function; highlights the causes, presentation, and treatment of thyroid dysfunction in HIV-infected patients; and discusses the controversies regarding screening.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
authors.forename: Todd T
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Brown
mesh_terms: D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D013960:Thyroid Function Tests; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D013972:Thyrotropin