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 lipoprotein-cholesterol 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 lipoprotein-cholesterol. The ratio between high density lipoprotein-cholesterol and total cholesterol was unchanged.