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Thyroid diseases and cerebrovascular disease
A Squizzato1, V E A Gerdes, D P M Brandjes
1Department of Vascular Medicine, Academical Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. alexsquizzo@libero.it
Stroke
|September 24, 2005
Summary
Thyroid disease impacts brain health. Hyperthyroidism links to atrial fibrillation and stroke, while hypothyroidism worsens cardiovascular risk factors and atherosclerosis progression. Further research is needed for other associations.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Neurology
- Cardiology
Background:
- Thyroid dysfunction is increasingly recognized as a factor in cerebrovascular events.
- Beyond thyrotoxic atrial fibrillation and cardioembolic stroke, other links are being explored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and synthesize existing research on the relationship between thyroid disorders and cerebrovascular diseases.
- To discuss findings for overt and subclinical hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism.
Main Methods:
- Literature review and synthesis of studies on thyroid disease and cerebrovascular outcomes.
- Analysis of associations between thyroid dysfunction states and stroke types, risk factors, and other neurological conditions.
Main Results:
- Overt hyperthyroidism is linked to atrial fibrillation and cardioembolic stroke. Subclinical hyperthyroidism also increases atrial fibrillation risk.
- Overt hypothyroidism is associated with hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and hyperhomocysteinemia, contributing to atherosclerosis.
- Evidence for hyperthyroidism-associated cerebral venous thrombosis, Moyamoya, or Giant cell arteritis is limited to case reports.
Conclusions:
- Hyperthyroidism is a risk factor for atrial fibrillation and cardioembolic stroke.
- Hypothyroidism exacerbates cardiovascular risk factors and promotes atherosclerosis.
- Further investigation is required to confirm proposed links between hyperthyroidism and cerebral venous thrombosis, Moyamoya disease, and Giant cell arteritis.