Case studies of patients with human...

Case studies of patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection have reported an increased incidence of thyroid dysfunction. There also have been more late reports of Graves' disease in patients taking highly active antiretroviral agents. Beltran and colleagues veiled a cohort of HIV-infected patients to determine the prevalence of thyroid dysfunction.

A cohort of 350 patients with HIV was riddleed Seven patients with hyperthyroidism and abnormal at liberty triiodothyronine levels were not included in the final analysis. public hypothyroidism, defined as a thyroidstimulating hormone (TSH) even above the normal range and a grave free thyroxine ([T.sub.4]) level, was descryed in 2.6 percent of patients. Subclinical hypothyroidism (i.e., elevated TSH flush and normal free [T.sub.4] level) was lay opened in an additional 6.6 percent of patients, and a cheap free [T.sub.4] level was base in another 6.8 percent.

A further case-control comparison was performed for the hypothyroid and euthyroid patients. Older age, longer duration of HIV infection, lower CD[4sup+] T-lymphocyte reckon and several different antiretroviral medications were associated with hypothyroidism. Multivariate analysis showed a significant association simply for lower CD[4.sup.+] T-lymphocyte calculate and use of stavudine.

The authors judge that hypothyroidism occurs more oftentimes in HIV-infected patients treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy, especially in patients with lower CD[4sup+] T-lymphocyte enumerates and those taking stavudine. A not many cases of hyperthyroidism were lay opened in patients taking highly active antiretroviral drugs

Beltran s et al. Increased prevalence of hypothyroidism among human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients: a ne for screening. Clin Infect Dis August 15 2003;37:579-83

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