Changes in serum lipoprotein(a) and lipids during treatment of hyperthyroidism

Abstract

Because of suggestions that thyroid hormones modulate serum lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] concentration, we evaluated prospectively the serial changes of serum Lp(a), measured as apolipoprotein(a) [apo(a)], and other lipoproteins in 40 subjects with hyperthyroidism treated with radioactive iodine (RAI) therapy. Hyperthyroid patients had lower (P <0.001) concentrations of apo(a), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and apo B, but higher apo A-I concentrations compared with age-matched controls [geometric mean (range)]; apo(a) 81 (17- 614) vs 187 (17-1808 IU/L): TC 4.07 ± 0.8 vs 5.22 ± 1.00 mmol/L (mean ± SD); LDL-C 2.47 ± 0.89 vs 3.40 ± 0.88 mmol/L; HDL-C 1.05 ± 0.33 vs 1.24 ± 0.34 mmol/L; apo B 0.66 ± 0.23 vs 1.13 ± 0.34 g/L, and apo A-I 2.07 ± 0.42 vs 1.46 ± 0.28 g/L, respectively. Euthyroidism was associated with normalization of serum TC, LDL-C, and apo B within 1 month of treatment. However, apo(a) required 4 months to normalize, and HDL-C and apo A-I were still abnormal 6 months after RAI. Serum apo(a), TC, LDL-C, and apo B were negatively correlated with serum thyroxine (T4), free thyroxine index, and triiodothyronine (T3) and positively correlated with thyrotropin during the transitional period from hyperthyroidism to euthyroidism. Parallel changes of these lipoproteins and thyroid hormones were also observed after treatment of hyperthyroidism. In conclusion, thyroid hormones do modulate lipoproteins, particularly Lp(a). The delay in normalization of apo(a) but not LDL suggests an effect on apo(a) production rather than on LDL removal.