Effects of Hypothyroidism Treatment on the Level of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor

Abstract

The objective of the investigation is identifying the level of vascular endothelial growth factor in patients with primary hypothyroidism and influence of complex treatment on its levels. Materials and methods. One hundred and thirty three patients with primary hypothyroidism were examined. All patients were grouped into group 1 containing 32 patients with hypothyroidism resulted from autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT) without obesity; group 2 involving 34 obese patients with autoimmune thyroiditis and hypothyroidism; group 3 including 34 patients with manifested hypothyroidism without obesity and Group 4, encompassing the rest 33 obese patients with post-operative hypothyroidism. Results. Patients’ data have shown significant increase of vascular endothelial growth factor levels in all groups, but the most expressed changes of vascular endothelial growth factor secretion have been noticed in obese patients with hypothyroidism resulting from autoimmune thyroidism. The possibility to increase the efficacy of treating such patients by means of complex use of LT4, enalapril and atorvastatin for six months has been discussed. Such complex use of LT4, enalapril and atorvastatin enhances the therapeutic effect of the background therapy and decreases the overproduction of vascular endothelial growth factor. Conclusions. With manifested hypothyroidism, levels of vascular endothelial growth factor in blood plasma are significantly higher in both obese and not obese patients. The highest indices have been found in obese patients with manifested hypothyroidism resulting from autoimmune thyroidism. Complex use of LT4, enalapril and atorvastatin for six months decreases vascular endothelial growth factor overproduction.

Keywords

• hypothyroidism
• vascular endothelial growth factor
• levothyroxine
• angiotensine transforming enzyme inhibitor
• atorvastatin