The Effect of Levothyroxine on Arterial Stiffness and Lipid Profile in Patients With Subclinical Hypothyroidism

We evaluated the effect of levothyroxine in subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) on arterial stiffness, lipid profile and inflammation. Thirty-four patients with SCH were included. Patients were treated with levothyroxine for 7 months. Arterial stiffness was evaluated by Augmentation index (AIx). After accomplishing euthyroidism, the AIx decreased from 8.3±17.2 to 6.5±14.3(P\<0.01) and AIx percentage decreased from36.2 11.5 ± to 9.1±33.2 (P =0.03). Systolic blood pressure decreased from 20±134.7 to mmHg 13.7±127.6 (P\<0.01). No significant improvement was found in other parameters. In patients whose AIx's decreased, LDL-cholesterol levels decreased by 37.1±-15.5 mg/dl compared to the patients whose AIx's didn't decrease and LDL-cholesterol increased by 57.4±24.1 mg/dl (P=0.057). We concluded that in patients suffering from SCH, treatment with levothyroxine had a significant beneficial effect on arterial stiffness and systolic blood pressure and no effect on lipid profile or inflammation.