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Thyroid hormones modulate uric acid metabolism in patients with recent onset subclinical hypothyroidism by improving insulin sensitivity

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Abstract

Some evidence suggests a relationship between thyroid dysfunction and uric acid (UA) metabolism, but the potential influential role of thyroid hormones on UA metabolism is still debated. This report was designed to evaluate the influential role of levothyroxine (L-T4) replacement therapy on circulating levels of UA in patients with recent onset post-thyroidectomy subclinical hypothyroidism. Circulating levels of thyroid hormones, UA and other metabolic parameters were assessed in 155 recently thyroidectomized patients (131 females, mean age 51.1 ± 12.7 years) at baseline (5–7 day after surgery) and after 2 months under replacement therapy with L-T4. At baseline, circulating levels of thyroid hormones were indicative of a subclinical hypothyroidism (TSH 8.2 ± 5.1 mU/mL, FT3 2.1 ± 0.7 pg/mL, FT4 9.2 ± 3.4 pg/mL). The mean serum UA concentration was 5.0 ± 1.3 mg/dL, while the prevalence of hyperuricemia, defined by serum UA levels > 6 mg/dL, was 22.6%. Serum UA levels at baseline were significantly correlated with HOMA-IR index (r = 0.475, p < 0.0001). After 2 months under the replacement therapy with L-T4, both serum UA levels (− 1.2 ± 0.9 mg/dL, p < 0.0001 vs. baseline) and HOMA-IR (− 0.3 ± 1.5 mmol/L, p = 0.0328 vs. baseline) significantly decreased. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that changes in HOMA-IR explained 23% of the variations of serum UA levels under L-T4 replacement therapy (β = 0.295, p < 0.0001, R2 = 0.230). Our study suggests that thyroid hormones could modulate UA metabolism in patients with recent onset subclinical hypothyroidism likely by improving insulin sensitivity.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, Viale S. Salvatore, Delta 6 Medicina, Coppito, 67100, L’Aquila, Italy

    Giovambattista Desideri & Stefano Necozione

  2. Division of Endocrine and Metabolic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy

    Raffaella Bocale, Anna Maria D’Amore, Giulia Carnassale & Celestino Pio Lombardi

  3. Institute of Biochemistry and Clinical Biochemistry, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy

    Angela Barini & Antonella Barini

Authors
  1. Giovambattista Desideri
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  2. Raffaella Bocale
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  3. Anna Maria D’Amore
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  4. Giulia Carnassale
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  5. Stefano Necozione
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  6. Angela Barini
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  7. Antonella Barini
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  8. Celestino Pio Lombardi
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Correspondence to Giovambattista Desideri.

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All procedures performed in this study involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Desideri, G., Bocale, R., D’Amore, A.M. et al. Thyroid hormones modulate uric acid metabolism in patients with recent onset subclinical hypothyroidism by improving insulin sensitivity. Intern Emerg Med 15, 67–71 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11739-019-02065-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11739-019-02065-9

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