Ultrasonically determined thyroid volume and thyroid functions in lithium-naive and lithium-treated patients with bipolar disorder: a cross-sectional and longitudinal study

作者：Ozsoy Saliha^*; Mavili Ertugrul; Aydin Murat; Turan Tayfun; Esel Ertugrul

来源：Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental , 2010, 25(2): 174-178.

DOI：10.1002/hup.1093

• bipolar disorder
• lithium
• thyroid
• ultrasonography

Objective This study investigated thyroid volume, hormone levels and antibodies in long-term lithium-treated and lithium-naive bipolar patients, some of whom underwent prospective follow-up evaluations.
Methods Fourteen lithium-naive patients, 13 long-term lithium-treated patients diagnosed with bipolar disorder and 12 healthy controls were included. Seven lithium-naive patients were followed-up during their lithium receiving period (range 6-9 months). Thyroid volume and serum levels of thyroid hormones and antibodies were measured once in the long-term lithium-treated patients and controls, and twice in the lithium-naive patients, i.e. before and after lithium treatment.
Results Mean thyroid volumes in the lithium-naive patients were significantly higher than those in the controls. Long-term lithium-treated patients had significantly higher total thyroid volume than the lithium-naive patients and the controls. Total thyroid volume in the patients after the lithium treatment was significantly higher than that before. Serum free thyroxine (fT4) levels in the long-term lithium-treated patients were lower than those in the lithium-naive patients and the controls. In the lithium-naive patients, after lithium treatment, free triiodothyronine (fT3) levels were lower, and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels were higher compared to those before lithium treatment.
Conclusions The results suggest that thyroid enlargement and some alterations in thyroid hormones in bipolar patients may present even before lithium treatment and increase further with lithium treatment.

• 出版日期2010-3