Blood Lipids During Treatment of Hyperthyroidism

Thirty patients with newly diagnosed hyperthyroidism were examined with regard to a unified analysis of the relationship between the changes in lipid metabolism and the thyroid function. Before and after one week's treatment with thiamazol, determinations of the free fatty acids (FFA), glycerol, cholesterol, phospholipid, triglyceride and paper lipoprotein electrophoresis were made on venous blood, together with determinations of PBI, T 4 , T 3 test and basal metabolic rate (BMR). The FFA and glycerol concentrations were increased, but not correlated in the untreated patients. During treatment the lipolysis decreased in step with the fall in thyroid function and BMR. The concentrations of cholesterol, phospholipid and triglyceride were well correlated in the untreated patients. During the treatment the serum cholesterol rose significantly, while the rise in phospholipid and triglyceride was less pronounced. The changes were related with the changes in the T 3 test. The rise occurred more frequently in patients with goitre. The lipid changes could not be demonstrated by the technique of lipoprotein electrophoresis used. Thus FFA, glycerol and to a lesser extent cholesterol in the blood are sensitive indicators of the antithyroid treatment.