Comparison of myocardial deformation indices during rest and after activity in untreated hyperthyroid patients with

Maryam Shojaeifard1, Zahra Davoudi2, Azam Erfanifar2

  • 1Echocardiography Research Center, Rajaie Cardiovascular Medical and Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences Tehran, Iran.

Insights

Untreated hyperthyroidism impairs myocardial deformation, affecting cardiac function even at rest. This study highlights reduced Global Longitudinal Strain (GLS) and ejection fraction changes in hyperthyroid patients compared to controls.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Endocrinology
  • Medical Imaging

Background:

  • Thyroid hormones critically influence cardiovascular function.
  • Thyroid diseases, particularly hyperthyroidism, adversely affect myocardial and vascular performance.
  • Assessing cardiac function in untreated hyperthyroid patients is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare myocardial deformation indices during rest and exercise between untreated hyperthyroid patients and a healthy control group.
  • To evaluate the impact of hyperthyroidism on cardiac mechanics using stress echocardiography.

Main Methods:

  • Included 26 untreated hyperthyroid patients and 26 matched healthy controls.
  • Measured left ventricular end-diastolic volume index (LVEDVI), heart rate (HR), cardiac output (CO), blood pressures, Global Longitudinal Strain (GLS), Global Circumferential Strain (GCS), Rate-Pressure Product (RPP), and strain rates at rest and peak exercise.
  • Utilized stress echocardiography for comprehensive cardiac assessment.

Main Results:

  • Hyperthyroid patients exhibited significantly lower Ejection Fraction change (ΔEF), GLS, and peak stress systolic/diastolic strain rates compared to controls.
  • Elevated TSH levels correlated positively with basal HR, RPP, and CO, and negatively with basal/maximum GLS, ΔHR, ΔEF, and ΔCO.
  • Symptom duration correlated with resting HR, CO, LVEDVI, and negatively with resting/maximal GLS, ΔHR, and ΔGLS.

Conclusions:

  • Two-dimensional echocardiography (2DE) reveals significant impairment in myocardial deformation in untreated hyperthyroid patients.
  • These findings underscore the detrimental effects of hyperthyroidism on cardiac mechanics.
  • Larger studies are needed to validate these results and their clinical implications.
Abstract