title: Effects of levothyroxine treatment on insulin sensitivity, endothelial function and risk factors of atherosclerosis in hypothyroid women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Contradictory results are encountered in literature regarding the effects of hypothyroidism on the risk factors of atherosclerosis. We aimed to explore the changes in atherosclerotic risk factors and insulin sensitivity before and after levothyroxine replacement therapy in women with primary hypothyroidism and compare with that of healthy controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve patients (mean age of 34±11.7years) without an evident disease except for primary hypothyroidism (TSH≥20mIU/L) and eleven euthyroid, age-matched (33.8±8.4years) female volunteers as controls were included. Baseline thyroid hormones, lipid parameters, homocysteine, fibrinogen levels were measured in both groups. Flow-mediated endothelial-dependent vasodilatation (FMD) method was used to evaluate endothelial dysfunction. Insulin sensitivity was assessed by M values based on euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp technique. The same measurements were performed after 6months of levothyroxine treatment and recovery of euthyroid state in hypothyroid patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Treatment reduced total cholesterol (P<0.005), LDL-cholesterol (P<0.005), lipoprotein(a) (P<0.01), fibrinogen (P<0.0001) and homocysteine (P<0.0005) levels. Treatment significantly improved M values of hypothyroid patients (3.68±1.53mg/kg.min vs 6.02±1.21mg/kg.min, P<0.0001) and FMD (9.1±3.7% vs 16.4±4.4%, hypothyroid vs euthyroid, P<0.0001). Significant correlations were found between M values and TSH (r=-0.6, P<0.005), fibrinogen (r=-0.53, P<0.01) measurements, free T3 (r=0.51, P<0.02) and free T4 (r=0.49, P<0.02) levels. FMD was significantly correlated with fibrinogen levels (r=-0.49, P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Insulin resistance, endothelial dysfunction, atherosclerotic risk markers improves with treatment of hypothyroidism.
authors.affiliation: Marmara University, Section of Endocrinology and Metabolism, 34662 Istanbul, Turkey. Electronic address: odeyneli@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Oguzhan
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Deyneli
authors.affiliation: Marmara University, Department of Radiology, 34662 Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ihsan Nuri
authors.initials: IN
authors.lastname: Akpınar
authors.affiliation: Marmara University, Section of Endocrinology and Metabolism, 34662 Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ozlem Sezgin
authors.initials: OS
authors.lastname: Meriçliler
authors.affiliation: Marmara University, Section of Endocrinology and Metabolism, 34662 Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hülya
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gözü
authors.affiliation: Marmara University, Department of Radiology, 34662 Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mehmet Erdem
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Yıldız
authors.affiliation: Marmara University, Section of Endocrinology and Metabolism, 34662 Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Nefise Sema
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Akalın
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000209:etiology*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D015309:Glucose Clamp Technique; D006801:Humans; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D013974:Thyroxine
keywords: Atherosclerosis; Athérosclérose; Endothelial function; Fonction endothéliale; Hypothyroidism; Hypothyroïdie; Insulin resistance; Insulinorésistance