Background: Adipose tissue is a hormonally active
system that produces and releases different bioactive
substances. Leptin, adiponectin, resistin and Retinol
-binding protein-4 (RBP-4) are some of the recently
discovered adipocytokines that participate in the regulation
of intermediate metabolism. The aim of this study was to
evaluate the circulating levels of leptin, adiponectin,
resistin and RBP-4 and basal metabolism data (body mass
index, weight change, glucose, cholesterol and HOMA-IR)
for insulin resistance in patients with thyroid dysfunction
before and after normalization of thyroid function and
weight with appropriate therapy.
Methods: We studied 20 patients with Graves’ disease.
Patients were evaluated at the time of diagnosis and again
after normalization of thyroid function with appropriate
therapy. Serum concentrations of free T4, total T3, thyroid
stimulating hormone (TSH), insulin, glucose, lipid
profiles, adiponectin, leptin, resistin and RBP-4 were
measured in each subject.
Results: Graves’ disease patients showed significantly
decreased lipid profiles, body mass index, waist
circumference and increased HOMA-IR, leptin, resistin
and RBP-4 levels in comparison with normalization of
thyroid function. However, there were no significant
difference in adiponectin. Moreover, no significant
correlation were found between the changes of
adipocytokines and thyroid function, anthropometric data,
biochemical parameters. Only the change in leptin level
and HDL-cholesterol level were significantly associated (r
= 0.59, P = 0.01).
Conclusion: In this study, serum leptin, resistin, and
RBP-4 levels were increased after normalization of
thyroid function in patients with Graves’ disease.
However, the changes of adipocytokines were not
associated with the change of thyroid function and
anthropometric data. However, further studies are needed.

Keywords: Graves' disease, Adiponectin, Leptin, Resistin,
RBP4 protein