Levels of testosterone, allopregnanolone and homocysteine in severe hypothyroidism.

Hypothyroidism is very often associated with cardiovascular diseases and neurological complications. Recently, homocysteine has been studied as an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis which negatively affects vascular endothelial cells. Because homocysteine metabolism is related to thyroid and steroid hormones, we studied these relationships in severe hypothyroidism and in euthyroid state. Homocysteine, testosterone and allopregnanolone concentrations were measured in the fasting plasma from 16 women who underwent total thyroidectomy, and who were either hypothyroid or euthyroid. Although all women used oral contraceptives, they were not protected against hyperhomocysteinemia during hypothyroid state. With the normalization of thyroid hormone concentrations homocysteine levels decreased to normal levels. There was a positive correlation between testosterone and homocysteine in the euthyroid state which suggests that not only estrogens but also androgen state should be considered in future studies on homocysteine.