The effects of hypothyroidism on liver status of cirrhotic patients

We have shown, in animal models as well as in retrospective human study, th at some degree of decreased thyroid function is beneficial for subjects wit h liver damage of various etiologies. Therefore, we herein present the resu lts of a cohort population study. Between 1991 and 1994, 18 patients (12 wo men and 6 men; mean age, 59 +/- 24 years) with both biopsy-proven active ci rrhosis (5 hepatitis C virus, 4 hepatitis B virus, 1 immunocompromised host , 2 primary biliary cirrhosis, 1 alcoholic, and 5 cryptogenic; Child's-Pugh criteria: A-8, B-8, C-2) and primary or induced (by either drug or surgery ) thyroxine-treated hypothyroidism were prospectively followed. Each patien t was examined at least twice yearly and served as their own control. The t hyroid of the profiled patients ranged between euthyroidism and subclinical hypothyroidism. Liver function tests were evaluated and compared in states of normal versus increased thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) blood levels. A significant improvement in alanine aminotransferase (p < 0.001), alkalin e phosphatase (p < 0.0001), albumin (p < 0.001), and bilirubin (p < 0.01) w as found in the increased TSH group. Prothrombin time was also found to be significantly better (p < 0.001). We conclude that euthyroid patients with liver cirrhosis might benefit from a controlled hypothyroidism.