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Myocardial perfusion and intima-media thickness in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism

M Knapp1, A Lisowska, B Sobkowicz

  • 1Department of Cardiology, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland. malgo33@interia.pl

Advances in Medical Sciences
|May 4, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Subclinical hypothyroidism (SH) is linked to reduced myocardial perfusion and increased intima-media thickness (IMT), suggesting a higher cardiovascular disease risk in affected individuals.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Endocrinology
  • Medical Imaging

Background:

  • Subclinical hypothyroidism (SH) presents a potential, yet debated, risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD).
  • Existing data on the association between SH and CVD risk remain inconclusive.
  • Assessing subclinical cardiac changes in SH is crucial for risk stratification.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate myocardial perfusion using contrast-enhanced echocardiography in patients with SH.
  • To measure intima-media thickness (IMT) in individuals diagnosed with SH.
  • To investigate the relationship between SH, myocardial perfusion, and arterial wall thickness.

Main Methods:

  • Contrast-enhanced echocardiography with dobutamine stress testing was employed to assess myocardial perfusion.
  • Quantitative analysis of myocardial perfusion was performed using Q-LAB Philips software.
  • Carotid and femoral intima-media thickness (IMT) were measured in 40 female patients with SH and 15 healthy controls.

Main Results:

  • Patients with SH exhibited significantly higher IMT compared to controls (0.7 mm vs. 0.38 mm, p=0.001).
  • Myocardial perfusion was significantly reduced at rest and during stress in the SH group (p=0.039 and p=0.01, respectively).
  • A negative correlation was observed between IMT and myocardial perfusion index at peak stress (r=-0.54, p=0.014).

Conclusions:

  • Contrast-enhanced echocardiography revealed myocardial hypoperfusion and increased IMT in patients with SH.
  • These findings suggest that SH may be associated with an elevated risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
  • Early detection of subclinical cardiac abnormalities in SH patients is warranted.
Abstract

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