Risk of Osteoporotic Fractures after Thyroid-stimulating Hormone Suppression Therapy in Patients with Thyroid Cancer

BACKGROUND: The effects of subclinical hyperthyroidism on fracture risk induced by thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) suppression therapy in patients with thyroid cancer still remains controversial. We performed a meta-analysis and systematic review to evaluate the effects of TSH suppression therapy on osteoporotic fracture in patients with thyroid cancer. METHODS: We performed a systematic search to identify studies which included osteoporotic fractures (hip fracture and vertebral fracture) in patients on TSH suppression therapy for thyroid cancer. Main outcome measures were occurrence and risk of osteoporotic fractures including hip and vertebral fractures between patients and controls. RESULTS: A systematic search yielded a total of 8 studies appropriate for review which included osteoporotic fracture outcome in patients on TSH suppression therapy for thyroid cancer. Studies with larger number of subjects showed the higher risk of osteoporotic fracture in group with TSH suppression therapy, although studies with smaller sample size presented a similar risk of fracture with control group. CONCLUSIONS: Although studies were limited by small numbers, results suggested possible association between chronic TSH suppression therapy and the increased risk of osteoporotic fractures in patients with thyroid cancer.