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Abnormal endothelial function in female patients with hypothyroidism and borderline thyroid function.

Anna G Dagre¹, John P Lekakis, Athanassios D Protogerou

¹Vascular Laboratory, Department of Clinical Therapeutics, Alexandra University Hospital, 23 Ikarias Street, 14578 Ekali, Athens, Greece. annadagre@hotmail.com

International Journal of Cardiology

|June 24, 2006

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Hypothyroidism is linked to endothelial dysfunction, impacting blood vessel health. Treatment for hypothyroidism normalizes this function, suggesting a role in cardiovascular disease prevention.

Area of Science:

Cardiovascular Science
Endocrinology
Vascular Biology

Background:

Hypothyroidism is a potential risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
Endothelial function is crucial for vascular health and NO-dependent vasodilation.
Assessing endothelial function in hypothyroidism can elucidate cardiovascular risk pathways.

Purpose of the Study:

To evaluate nitric oxide-dependent endothelial function in resistance arteries of individuals with varying degrees of hypothyroidism.
To investigate the relationship between thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels and endothelial function.
To determine if L-thyroxine therapy improves endothelial function in hypothyroidism.

Main Methods:

Ninety-six female subjects were categorized into five groups based on TSH levels, including controls, upper normal TSH, subclinical hypothyroidism, overt hypothyroidism, and treated hypothyroidism.

Related Experiment Videos

Forearm blood flow response during reactive hyperemia was measured using venous occlusion strain-gauge plethysmography to assess endothelial function.

Statistical analysis, including ANOVA, was employed to compare groups and assess correlations.

Main Results:

Duration of reactive hyperemia, a measure of endothelial function, significantly differed among the hypothyroidism groups (p<0.001).
Endothelial function was impaired in subjects with upper normal TSH and subclinical hypothyroidism compared to controls, and significantly worse in overt hypothyroidism.
A significant negative linear correlation was observed between duration of reactive hyperemia and TSH levels (r=-0.383, p<0.001).

Conclusions:

Endothelial dysfunction is present in the microvasculature of patients with hypothyroidism, worsening with increased TSH levels.
This endothelial dysfunction may contribute to the increased cardiovascular disease risk associated with hypothyroidism.
Effective L-thyroxine therapy for hypothyroidism appears to restore normal endothelial function.