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Evaluation of thyroid function in lithium-naive bipolar patients

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 April 2020

J. Valle ,
J.L. Ayuso-Gutierrez ,
A. Abril  and
J.L. Ayuso-Mateos
J. Valle
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Hospital de la Princesa, Madrid
J.L. Ayuso-Gutierrez
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Complutense University, Madrid
A. Abril
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Complutense University, Madrid
J.L. Ayuso-Mateos*
Affiliation:
Clinical and Social Psychiatry Research Unit, University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain
*
*Correspondence and reprints Mailing address: Clinical and Social Psychiatry Research Unit, Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla, Avd Valdecilla s/n, Santander 39008, Spain
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Summary

A high prevalence of thyroid hypofunction has been found in bipolar patients. However, the samples used in previous studies included a high percentage of patients in treatment with lithium and carbamazepine. Since the use of these drugs may explain the high prevalence of thyroid disturbances found in bipolar patients, we designed the present study to assess thyroid function in a sample of bipolar patients who had not been treated previously with lithium or carbamazepine. Patients included in the sample met Research Diagnostic Criteria for bipolar affective disorder. Assessment included determination of serum levels for total tyroxine (T4), total triiodothyronine (T3), and thyrotropin both basally and in response to infusion of 500 mg of Protilerin. The rate of thyroid hypofunction in the total sample (9.2%) was considerably lower than that reported in other studies with bipolar patients undergoing lithium therapy. Five patients (9.2%) showed some thyroid hyperfuncion parameter. Our results do not show significant differences in thyroid function indices between long-term and short-term duration of illness, between outpatients and inpatients, between high and low number of episodes, and between rapid- and non-rapid-cycling cases. Comparison between bipolar I and bipolar II patients shows a statistically significant difference in the values of TSH levels, with the bipolar II group having a higher mean value. Our data suggest that thyroid dysfunction is not related to gender, duration of illness, number of episodes, or rapid-cycling course of illness. The higher TRH-stimulated TSH levels in the bipolar II group could be considered a differential biological feature.

Keywords

bipolar disorderlithiumthyroid function
Type
Original article
Information
European Psychiatry , Volume 14 , Issue 6 , October 1999 , pp. 341 - 345
Copyright
Copyright © European Psychiatric Association 1999

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