The thyroid gland is located in the neck and produces hormones that affect almost every organ in the body. Thyroid hormones can have an impact on the following:
A number of doctors have reported abnormal thyroid hormone levels in a small proportion of people with HIV/AIDS (PHAs) taking highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART), so hormone researchers in France decided to conduct a large study to find out more.
Researchers enrolled 221 HIV positive subjects with the following profile:
Researchers found that the following proportion of subjects had thyroid hormone abnormalities:
Among healthy, HIV negative people, it is estimated that the proportion of those with abnormal levels of thyroid hormones is:
In some subjects, researchers suspect that there may be a link between the length of time that protease inhibitors were used and levels of the thyroid hormone called "free T4," also known as "free thyroxine." However, further study is needed to confirm and understand this possible connection.
REFERENCE
Esnault JL, Billaud E, Milpied B, et all. High prevalence of thyroid abnormalities in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy. Abstract 16 - 3rd International Workshop on Adverse Drug Reactions and Lipodystrophy in HIV, 23-26 October 2001, Athens, Greece.
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