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Pituitary-thyroid function in spironolactone treated hypertensive women
Acta Endocrinologica
|April 1, 1979
Summary
High-dose spironolactone treatment significantly enhanced thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and triiodothyronine (T3) responses in hypertensive women. This suggests spironolactone may influence pituitary-thyroid function, potentially via its antiandrogenic effects.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Spironolactone is a medication with known antiandrogenic properties.
- Its effects on pituitary-thyroid axis function require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of high-dose spironolactone on pituitary-thyroid function in eumenorrheic, euthyroid, hypertensive women.
- To assess the influence of spironolactone on hormonal responses to thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) and luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH).
Main Methods:
- Six eumenorrheic, euthyroid, hypertensive women received high-dose spironolactone (100 mg q.i.d.) for four weeks.
- Intravenous TRH/LH-RH bolus injections were administered to assess TSH, T3, T4, LH, FSH, and prolactin responses.
- Hormone levels were measured before and during spironolactone therapy.
Main Results:
- Spironolactone significantly enhanced TSH and T3 responses to TRH/LH-RH injection (P < 0.05).
- Basal serum TSH, T3, T4, and stimulated LH, FSH, and prolactin levels remained unaffected.
- Serum testosterone, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, and estradiol levels were similar before and during therapy.
Conclusions:
- High-dose spironolactone enhances pituitary-thyroid function, specifically TSH and T3 release, in this patient group.
- The antiandrogenic action of spironolactone may mediate this effect, potentially by altering TRH or T3 receptor sensitivity in the pituitary.
- Further research is warranted to elucidate the precise mechanisms involved.