A Biochemical Profile of Abnormalities in Hypothyroidism

Abstract

The biochemical abnormalities of hypothyroidism were defined in a prospective study of 15 hypothyroid patients. Biochemical determinations were performed on a SMA 12/60 multichannel AutoAnalyzer before and after patients attained the euthyroid state. Abnormally high mean pretreatment values were observed in the serum CPK, cholesterol, SGOT, and LDH. These biochemical abnormalities returned to normal with achievement of the euthyroid state. Although the mean pretreatment values for total protein, albumin, and creatinine were within the high-normal range, these values significantly decreased with treatment. Our study indicates that in hypothyroidism there exists a “profile” of multiple biochemical abnormalities which returns to normal with treatment. In a patient clinically suspected to have hypothyroidism, the presence of these abnormalities is at least consistent with, and may support the diagnosis of, hypothyroidism. In addition, awareness of these abnormalities and their return to normal with treatment of hypothyroidism may avoid unnescesary evaluation for other disease states associated with any of the abnormalities.