THYROID HYPOFUNCTION RELATED WITH THE PROGRESSION OF HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS INFECTION

Thyroid function was evaluated in 119 human immunodeficiency virus (HI V) infected patients at different stages of infection, compared with e uthyroid normal subjects and hepatitis C virus infected blood donors a s control groups. The low T3 state, well documented in severe nonthyro idal illnesses, was not found in these HIV infected patients. They sho wed lower FT4 levels and higher TSH and TBG values than euthyroid norm al controls. These findings suggested a thyroid hypofunction becoming more evident with the progression of the infection as also supported b y the presence of antithyroid autoantibodies mainly found in the sympt omatic stages of the infection.