The impact of propylthiouracil therapy on lipid peroxidation and antioxidant status parameters in hyperthyroid patients

This study was performed on 17 hyperthyroid patients and 15 healthy control s. The patients were under propylthiouracil (PTU) therapy at a dosage of 3 x 100 mg/day for one month. Blood samples, taken at the beginning and on th e 30(th) day of therapy, were analyzed for hormonal parameters (T-3, T-4, T SH), lipid peroxidation end-product [thiobarbituric acid reactive substance s (TBARS)] and antioxidant status parameters: glutathione (GSH), glutathion e peroxidase (GSH-Px) and CuZn superoxide dismutase (CuZn SOD). Hyperthyroi d patients were observed to have significantly higher TEARS, GSH and CuZn S OD levels than controls (P < 0.05, P < 0.001, P < 0.001, respectively). PTU therapy caused a relief in oxidative stress as reflected by significantly decreased TEARS levels (P < 0.001) and a selective modification in the anti oxidant status parameters: significant decreases in GSH and CuZn SOD levels (P < 0.001) and a significant increase in GSH Pr (P<0.01) activity. Our fi ndings suggest a selective modification of the antioxidative profile in hyp erthyroidism. PTU should also be considered as an in vivo antioxidant, in a ddition to its antithyroid action.