The Effect of Thyroxine Treatment on Bone Mineral Density given After Thyroidectomy

The use of thyroxin for suppression or replacement therapy following thyroidectomy is very common. But İts effect on bone mineral density (BMD), is beeing debated. The aim of this study is to determine whether long term thyroxine therapy is a risk factor fort he development of secondary osteoporosis in premenopousal and postmenopousal womwn after thyroidectomy. 33 premenopousal and 17 postmenopousal female patients who had thyroidectomy for different indications in Ankara Numune Teaching and Research Hospital department of fifth surgery clinic between September 2001 and October 2003 were included in this study. The patientswere put on 50-200 mcg/day L-thyroxine postoperatively and dosage was adjusted on routine follow-ups. BMD of patients at lumbar, femoral neck and Ward triangle regions was measured using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry preoperatively and postoperatively after 6th month and first year. There was no significant difference in thyroid hormone levels and I-thyroxine döşe between the premenopousal and postmenopousal patients (p>0.05). There was no significant difference in preoperative, postoperative 6th month and postoperative first year BMD of patients groups (p<0.05). no correlation was detected between the BMD and preoperative diagnosis, surgical procedure , the döşe and duration of L-thyroxine therapy. In conclusion we think that long-term thyroxine therapy is not a single predisposant factor for decrease in BMD.