PLASMA HIGH-DENSITY LIPOPROTEIN CHOLESTEROL IN THYROID-DISEASE

The plasma levels of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were reduced in 16 hyperthyroid female patients compared to 37 euthyroid women (33.5 ± 8 υs. 51.5 ± 13 mg/dl (mean ± SD); P < 0.001), When 5 patients were restudied after restoration of the euthyroid state, plasma HDL-C increased from 29 ± 5 to 43 ± 11.5 mg/dl (P < 0.05). In addition, in 22 hypothyroid women, HDL-C levels were also diminished compared to the euthyroid group (43.4 ± 15.5 υs. 51.5 ± 13 mg/dl; P < 0.05). Nine patients were restudied after L-T4 replacement therapy; their levels of HDL-C increased but not to a statistically significant degree. The daily administration of 0.3 mg L-T4 to eight normal male volunteers for 1 month did not significantly affect HDL-C levels. © 1979 by The Endocrine Society.