Serum lipids in hyper- and hypothyroidism before and after treatment

Total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), triglycerides (TG) and apoprotein A (Apo A) were determined in serum from 21 hyperthyroid patients and 11 hypothyroid patients before and after treatment to euthyroid state. The above-mentioned components were also determined in a reference population. In the hyperthyroid group the concentration of total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol increased significantly upon treatment. High density lipoprotein also increased except for 9 patients also receiving propranolol. The ratio between high density lipoproteincholesterol and total cholesterol decreased in the patients receiving propranolol. In the hypothyroid group the values after treatment decreased significantly for cholesterol, high density lipoprotein-cholesterol and low density lipoproteincholesterol. The ratio between high density lipoprotein-cholesterol and total cholesterol was unchanged.