We examined insulin sensitivity and secretion, together with the levels of selected glucoregulatory hormones, in 15 female patients with severe hypothyroidism (H) and during subsequent thyroid hormone replacement therapy (HRT) using the euglycaemic hyperinsulinaemic clamp technique. Insulin action, as evaluated by glucose disposal, the insulin sensitivity index, and fasting post-hepatic insulin delivery rate were established. The basal levels of insulin, C-peptide and counter-regulatory hormones were measured in basal condition. In H, glucose disposal (p<0.01), the insulin sensitivity index (p<0.01) and post-hepatic insulin delivery rate (p<0.05) were significantly lower than during HRT. No significant changes in the levels of fasting insulin and C-peptide were observed. The levels of counter-regulatory hormones in patients with H were significantly higher than during HRT (glucagon, p<0.05; epinephrine, p<0.01; cortisol, p<0.05; growth hormone, p<0.05). In H, an inverse correlation between insulin sensitivity and insulin secretion was observed (p<0.05). Cortisol was the most important factor affecting the variability of insulin sensitivity values, regardless of thyroid function (p=0.0012). In conclusion, H altered both insulin sensitivity and the levels of selected counter-regulatory hormones. The situation was restored by HRT, as manifested not only by normalisation of insulin sensitivity, secretion and levels of glucoregulatory hormones, but also by improvement of their relationships.
- MeSH
- Epinephrine blood MeSH
- C-Peptide blood MeSH
- Adult MeSH
- Financing, Organized MeSH
- Glucagon blood MeSH
- Glucose Clamp Technique MeSH
- Thyroid Hormones blood therapeutic use MeSH
- Hormones blood secretion MeSH
- Hydrocortisone blood MeSH
- Hypothyroidism drug therapy physiopathology MeSH
- Insulin blood secretion MeSH
- Insulin Resistance MeSH
- Blood Glucose metabolism MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Human Growth Hormone blood MeSH
- Check Tag
- Adult MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Female MeSH
- MeSH
- Adult MeSH
- Hormone Replacement Therapy MeSH
- Thyroid Hormones blood therapeutic use MeSH
- Hypothyroidism drug therapy complications metabolism MeSH
- Insulin pharmacology MeSH
- Blood Glucose metabolism MeSH
- Islets of Langerhans secretion drug effects MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Check Tag
- Adult MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Female MeSH
- Publication type
- Comparative Study MeSH
- MeSH
- C-Peptide blood MeSH
- Adult MeSH
- Research Support as Topic MeSH
- Glucose metabolism MeSH
- Hormones blood MeSH
- Hypothyroidism diagnosis MeSH
- Insulin pharmacology MeSH
- Islets of Langerhans secretion MeSH
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Check Tag
- Adult MeSH
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Female MeSH
- Publication type
- Congress MeSH
