Thyroid Analogs as Cholesteropenic Agents

Abstract

D-triiodothyronine was administered double-blind in doses of 0.1 and 0.2 mg daily to 4 patients. Although this drug had potent cholesteropenic action, it raised the BMR and proved hazardous in patients with coronary atherosclerosis. Sodium D-thyroxine 4-6 mg or placebo were administered single-blind to 13 patients with hypercholesterolemia. Alternate patients received placebo for 6 weeks followed by 6 weeks of drug therapy. The remainder of the patients received the drug first followed by placebo for the same time intervals. In the first 6 weeks a significant majority of patients showed a mean decrease in serum cholesterol of 43 and 45 mg % with placebo and drug, respectively. Substitution of placebo for the drug resulted in a significant increase in the mean cholesterol of 112 mg %. Our data suggest but do not establish the cholesteropenic efficacy of D-thyroxine. A modified study is in progress. Any study of a cholesterol-lowering agent must allow for the initial decline of serum cholesterol noted here and ascribed to psychotherapeutic influences.