Pharmacology Watch: Gastric Acid Secretion and the Absorption of Thyroxine.(Plavix (clopidogrel) and aspirin)(preventing hypertension at prehypertension stage)

Publication: OB/GYN Clinical Alert

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Gastric Acid Secretion and the Absorption of Thyroxine

Pharmacology Watch

The absorption of thyroxine is strongly influenced by stomach acidity, according to new study. Researchers from Italy looked at 248 patients with multinodular goiter who were treated with thyroxine with a goal thyrotropin (TSH) level of 0.05 to 0.20 mU/L. Of these patients, 53 had Helicobacter pylori related gastritis and 60 had atrophic gastritis of the stomach. The reference group comprised 135 patients with multinodular goiter and no gastric disorders. The study also included 11 patients who were infected with H. pylori during the study and 10 patients who were treated with omeprazole and had no gastroesophageal reflux. Patients with H. pylori-related gastritis, atrophic gastritis, or both had a daily requirement of thyroxine that was 22-34% higher than the reference group. In the 11 patients who became infected with age by lower H. pylori during the study, thyrotropin levels increased significantly (P = .002), an effect that was nearly reversed with eradication of H. pylori. Treatment with omeprazole also increased serum thyrotropin levels (median 1.70mU/L increase in thyrotropin; P = 0.002), requiring a...

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