Thyroid function and lipid profile in bipolar I patients.
OBJECTIVE
This study aims to evaluate the prevalence of thyroid dysfunctions and to explore their association with perturbations in lipid profile in bipolar I patients.


METHODS
Our study included 130 bipolar I patients diagnosed according to the DSM IV, and 124 control subjects aged respectively 37.9±12.1 and 37.6±13.2 years. TSH and FT4 were determined using electrochemiluminescence. Total cholesterol, triglycerides, c-LDL and c-HDL were determined by enzymatic colorimetric methods and ApoA1, ApoB and Lp(a) by immunoturbidimetric techniques on Konélab 30™.


RESULTS
Patients had significantly higher TSH values than controls and had perturbations in lipid profile. 0.7% and 28.5% of patients had respectively hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism was associated with obesity and perturbations in lipid profile particularly increase in total cholesterol, c-LDL, ApoB, ApoB/ApoA1 and Lp(a) and decrease in ApoA1 and c-HDL. Moreover, it was associated with lithium and valproic acid treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Hypothyroidism was frequent in bipolar patients. It was significantly associated with obesity and perturbations in lipid profile. Therefore, bipolar patients require specific care, particularly for thyroid, lipid profile and weight; the effectiveness of this care will be evaluated during follow-up period.
Laboratory of Biochemistry-Toxicology, Monastir University Hospital, Tunisia.
Asma
A
Ezzaher
Dhouha
D
Haj Mouhamed
Anwar
A
Mechri
Fadoua
F
Neffati
Wahiba
W
Douki
Lotfi
L
Gaha
Mohamed Fadhel
MF
Najjar