End-organ responses to thyroxine therapy in subclinical hypothyroidism

We studied variables known to change with thyroid hormone status in 18 patients with subclinical hypothyroidism before and during treatment with thyroxine in a dose sufficient to restore the plasma TSH response to TRH to normal. There was an associated increase in both plasma total T4 and free T4 within the normal range but plasma total T3 and free T3 were unchanged. As a result of thyroxine treatment there was a small but significant increase (P less than 0.05) in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) with maximal exercise but no significant changes in LVEF at rest and moderate exercise, continuously monitored mean sleeping heart rate, day/night ratios of urinary sodium excretion, peripheral nerve conduction velocities, fasting serum triglycerides, total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoproteins (HDL) or TC/HDL ratios. On this evidence we do not consider that thyroxine replacement therapy is indicated in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism.