Abnormal Liver Function Test in Graves’ Disease: A Prospective Study of Comparison between the Hyperthyroid State and the Euthyroid State
Veerasak Sarinnapakorn MD*, Pornchanok Noppavetchwich MD*,Thongkum Sunthorntepwarakul MD*, Chaicharn Deerochanawong MD*,Supannee Ngongamrut MD*
Affiliation : * Department of Medicine, Rajavithi Hospital, College of Medicine, Rangsit University, Bangkok, Thailand
Background : Abnormal liver function test is sometimes seen in hyperthyroidism but no study had been carried out to compare
liver function test in the hyperthyroid state and the euthyroid state.
Objective : This study aimed to find the prevalence of abnormal liver function test in Graves’ disease and compare liver
function test result in the hyperthyroid state with the euthyroid state.
Material and Method: This is a prospective study of 112 patients who had Graves’ disease. These patients were new cases
or recurrent cases of Graves’ disease whose medication had been discontinue for more than 3 months. We followed-up 86
patients received treatment with antithyroid drugs up to the euthyroid state and compared liver function test at diagnosis and
in the euthyroid state.
Results : An abnormal level of serum globulin was the most abnormal liver function test results in Graves’ disease at 30.4%,
followed by an abnormal level of serum alkaline phosphatase of 25.0% and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) of
23.3%. The trend of GGT levels returned to normal but there was an increased in serum alkaline phosphatase after treatment
until the euthyroid state in the follow-up group.
Conclusion : Abnormal liver function tests in Graves’ disease are common, after treatment until the euthyroid state, experienced
an improvement in GGT level but also an increase in serum alkaline phosphatase level.
Keywords : Abnormal liver function test, Graves’ disease, Hyperthyroid, Euthyroid
