Summary
The effect of Nadolol treatment on lipid subfractions in a group of 23 hyperthyroid
patients was assessed in a randomised double-blind placebo controlled trial lasting
six weeks, carbimazole being given to both groups from weeks 2 to 6. Clinical and
biochemical euthyroidism was seen in both groups at 6 weeks; no effect of nadolol
on peripheral monodeiodination of T4 to T3 was observed. At time 0 there were significant
negative correlations between total cholesterol and free T3 (r = 0.68), and free T4
(r = 0.54). In the Nadolol group there were significant rises between 0 and 6 weeks
in total cholesterol (52.6%, P < 0.01), LDL cholesterol (30.3%, P < 0.01) and HDL
cholesterol (18.2% P < 0.05). HDL cholesterol rose significantly in the placebo group
(12.4%, P < 0.05) but there were no significant increases in LDL cholesterol or total
cholesterol. The rise in triglyceride during this period in the Nadolol group (64.7%,
P < 0.05) was significantly greater (P < 0.05) than the rise in the placebo group
(8.8%). Nadolol increases triglyceride more than placebo during the early management
of hyperthyroidism
Key words
Nadolol - Lipids - Hyperthyroidism
