Haemostatic effects of levothyroxine and selenomethionine in euthyroid patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis

Thromb Haemost. 2012 Nov;108(5):973-80. doi: 10.1160/TH12-04-0275. Epub 2012 Aug 23.

Abstract

The aim of this prospective study was to investigate for the first time whether levothyroxine and selenomethionine, administered alone or in combination, affect coagulation and fibrinolysis in Hashimoto's thyroiditis patients with normal thyroid function tests. A group of 155 ambulatory women with recently diagnosed and previously untreated Hashimoto's thyroiditis, of whom 149 completed the study, were randomly assigned in a double-blind fashion to six months of treatment with levothyroxine, selenomethionine, levothyroxine plus selenomethionine, or placebo. The control group included 39 matched healthy women. The prothrombin time ratio, the activated partial thromboplastin time, and plasma levels/activities of fibrinogen, factor VII, von Willebrand factor, factor X and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) were assessed at baseline and after three and six months of treatment. Compared with the healthy subjects, Hashimoto's thyroiditis patients exhibited higher plasma levels/activities of all of the parameters studied, as well as were characterised by the abnormal prothrombin time ratio and activated partial thromboplastin time. All these haemostatic disturbances were reduced or normalised by levothyroxine + selenomethionine treatment, while the effect of levothyroxine or selenomethionine was limited to fibrinogen and PAI-1, respectively. Our results demonstrate that euthyroid women with Hashimoto's thyroiditis are characterised by abnormal coagulation and fibrinolysis. Levothyroxine and selenomethionine, especially if administered together, produce a beneficial effect on haemostasis in euthyroid patients with this disorder.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Autoantibodies / blood
  • Blood Coagulation / drug effects
  • Blood Glucose / metabolism
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Drug Synergism
  • Female
  • Fibrinolysis / drug effects
  • Hashimoto Disease / blood*
  • Hashimoto Disease / complications
  • Hashimoto Disease / drug therapy*
  • Hashimoto Disease / immunology
  • Hemostasis / drug effects*
  • Hemostatic Disorders / blood*
  • Hemostatic Disorders / drug therapy*
  • Hemostatic Disorders / etiology
  • Humans
  • Lipids / blood
  • Middle Aged
  • Partial Thromboplastin Time
  • Prothrombin Time
  • Selenomethionine / administration & dosage
  • Selenomethionine / adverse effects
  • Selenomethionine / therapeutic use*
  • Thyroid Hormones / blood
  • Thyroid Hormones / immunology
  • Thyroxine / administration & dosage
  • Thyroxine / adverse effects
  • Thyroxine / therapeutic use*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Autoantibodies
  • Blood Glucose
  • Lipids
  • Thyroid Hormones
  • Selenomethionine
  • Thyroxine