Schildklierdiagnostiek bij dyslipidemie

We describe 2 patients, a 49-year-old man presenting with dyspnoea and fatigue, and a 50-year-old woman referred for hypercholesterolaemia and hypertension. Both patients appeared to have hypothyroidism-induced dyslipidaemia. The lipid abnormalities resolved completely following thyroid hormone replacement therapy. Hypothyroidism is a well-known cause of secondary dyslipidaemia and may therefore predispose to the development of atherosclerotic disease. Measurement of thyroid hormone levels are, however, often not included in the screening of dyslipidaemia patients. The cases presented illustrate the insidious and diverse clinical presentations and diagnostic challenges of hypothyroidism. In addition, these cases demonstrate that clinical and biochemical screening for thyroid dysfunction is of paramount importance in all dyslipidaemia patients to prevent inappropriate initiation of lipid-lowering therapy.

Conflict of interest: none declared. Financial support: none declared.