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Subclinical hypothyroidism, arterial stiffness, and myocardial reserve

P J D Owen1, C Rajiv, D Vinereanu

  • 1Centre for Endocrine and Diabetes Sciences, Cardiff University, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff CF14 4XN, Wales, United Kingdom.

The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
|March 16, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) increases arterial stiffness, which improves with l-thyroxine treatment. However, myocardial functional reserve remains similar to controls and is unaffected by treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Endocrinology
  • Vascular Medicine

Background:

  • Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) is linked to cardiac disease risk, but its effects on arterial function are not well understood.
  • Assessing arterial and cardiac function in SCH is crucial for understanding cardiovascular implications.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate arterial and cardiac function in women with subclinical hypothyroidism.
  • To determine the impact of l-thyroxine treatment on arterial stiffness and cardiac function in SCH patients.

Main Methods:

  • A 6-month controlled observational study involving 19 female SCH patients and 10 female controls.
  • Utilized pulse wave analysis and tissue Doppler dobutamine stress echocardiography to measure vascular stiffness and left ventricular function.
  • Assessed changes following incremental doses of l-thyroxine in SCH patients.

Main Results:

  • Subclinical hypothyroidism patients exhibited elevated baseline augmentation gradient and heart rate-corrected augmentation index compared to controls.
  • L-thyroxine treatment significantly reduced arterial stiffness indices in SCH patients.
  • No significant differences were observed in resting global or regional left ventricular function, or myocardial velocities during dobutamine stress between SCH patients and controls, or after treatment.

Conclusions:

  • Arterial stiffness is increased in subclinical hypothyroidism and can be improved with l-thyroxine therapy.
  • Myocardial functional reserve in SCH patients is comparable to healthy individuals and is not altered by l-thyroxine treatment.
Abstract

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