Evaluation of metabolic status in amiodarone-induced thyroid disorders: plasma coenzyme Q10 determination

In previous works we have demonstrated that Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) levels have a significant inverse correlation with thyroid hormone concentration in patients with spontaneous hyper- or hypothyroidism. In order to verify whether this correlation is maintained in patients on long-term amiodarone therapy, in whom thyroid metabolism is altered by the iodine contained in the drug, we have studied 30 patients with thyroid dysfunction induced by chronic amiodarone treatment. We have distinguished four groups of patients: group A (n = 8): patients with true hyperthyroidism induced by drug administration; group B (n = 11): patients with mild hyperthyroid symptoms, but isolated thyroxine increase or dissociation between different indexes of thyroid function; group C (n = 5): patients with normal thyroid hormone levels, but increased TSH levels; group D (n = 6): patients who appeared really clinically euthyroid, with normal thyroid hormone levels and normal TSH response to TRH. In group A patients, plasma CoQ10 levels averaged 0.49 +/- 0.03 micrograms/ml, significantly lower than those in normal subjects and similar to those observed in spontaneous hyperthyroid patients. In group B patients, CoQ10 levels were in the normal range (0.88 +/- 0.10 microgram/ml). In group C patients, CoQ10 levels were lower than those in normal subjects and similar to those of group A patients (0.49 +/- 0.04 microgram/ml); they differed, in regards to CoQ10 values, in comparison with spontaneous primary hypothyroid patients, who had very high levels of plasma CoQ10. Finally, in group D patients, CoQ10 levels were in the normal range (0.77 +/- 0.04 microgram/ml).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)