Thyroid Research Thyroid Research Archive Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism may be increased in patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection

(November 2002)

The background of the study. Patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection may have thyroid dysfunction, including hypothyroidism and the changes in thyroid function associated with nonthyroidal illness. In this study the prevalence of thyroid dysfunction was studied in a group of outpatients with HIV infection receiving antiretroviral drug therapy.

How the study was done. The study subjects were 350 patients with HIV infection seen in outpatient clinics in France in 2001. Thyroid function was evaluated by measuring serum thyrotropin (TSH) and free thyroxine (T4).

The results of the study. There were 114 women and 236 men (average age, 41 years), of whom 287 patients (82 percent) had normal thyroid function and 56 (16 percent) had hypothyroidism. The hypothyroid group included 9 patients with overt hypothyroidism (high serum TSH and low serum free T4 values), 23 with subclinical hypothyroidism (high serum TSH and normal serum free T4 values), and 24 with low serum free T4 values alone. A comparable group of normal subjects was not studied, but the frequency of hypothyroidism in these patients was higher than expected in people of this age.

The proportions of women and men and the mean age, body-mass index, and plasma level of HIV were similar in the patients with normal thyroid function and those with hypothyroidism. The duration of infection was longer and the CD4 cell count was lower in the hypothyroid group.

The conclusions of the study. Hypothyroidism may be more common in patients with HIV infection, and to some extent it is related to the duration and severity of illness.

The original article. Beltran S, Lescure FX, Desailloud R, Douadi Y, Smail A, El Esper I, Arlot S, Schmit JL, and the Thyroid and VIH (THYVI) Group. Increased prevalence of hypothyroidism among human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients: a need for screening. Clin Infect Dis 2003;37:579-83.