Endocrine Abstracts

Background and aims: The aim of this study is to analyse the serum markers of liver function and the morphological hepatic changes (by ultrasound) in hypo- and hyperthyroidism.

Methods: The study included 59 patients with hypothyroidism: subclinical disease 14 patients and clinically manifest disease 45 patients, and 30 patients with hyperthyroidism. All patients underwent serum liver function tests: alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total bilirubin (Bt), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGTP), alkaline phosphatase (SAP), and ultrasound monitoring of the liver. The results were compared to those of a control group of 30 patients with the same age and sex parameters.

Results: In hypothyroidism, increased ALT levels were found in 35.60% of the patients, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) was present in 37.30% of the patients; there was an inversely proportional linear correlation with a high statistical significance between free T₄ vs ALT, free T₄ vs AST and a directly proportional correlation between TSH vs ALT, TSH vs AST, and TSH vs GGTP. In hyperthyroidism, the prevalence of liver test changes in the patients was as follows: ALT and AST 23.3%, Bt 36.6%, GGTP 36.6%, SAP 53.3%; NAFLD 33.3%; the linear regression model evidenced a directly proportional correlation between free T₄ and the liver parameters, with a significance for Bt, SAP, and GGTP.

Conclusions: It is recommended to monitor the liver function of all patients with thyroid dysfunctions at the time of diagnosis (pre-therapy) and during the evolution of the disease under therapy.