Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 2, 2025

Author Spotlight: Integrating Ultrasound Imaging with Biochemical Markers for Thyroid Disease Diagnosis

Author Spotlight: Integrating Ultrasound Imaging with Biochemical Markers for Thyroid Disease Diagnosis

Published on: February 9, 2024

Associations between thyroid-stimulating hormone and hypertension according to thyroid cyst status in the general

Yuji Shimizu^1,2, Yuko Nabeshima-Kimura³, Shin-Ya Kawashiri⁴

¹Department of Community Medicine, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan. shimizu@osaka-ganjun.jp.

Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine

|November 6, 2020

Abstract

Background:

The absence of thyroid cysts may indicate latent thyroid damage, as demonstrated in our previous study. However, the association between the absence of thyroid cysts and latent functional damage of the thyroid is unknown. At low thyroid hormone productivity, which may be associated with latent functional damage of the thyroid, the association between thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and hypertension might be enhanced. Therefore, we evaluated the association between TSH level and hypertension stratified by thyroid cyst status.

Methods:

We conducted a cross-sectional study of 1724 euthyroid Japanese individuals aged 40-74 years who participated in an annual health checkup in 2014.

Results:

In the study population, 564 and 686 participants had thyroid cysts and hypertension, respectively. A significant positive association was observed between TSH and hypertension in subjects without a thyroid cyst but not in subjects with thyroid cysts. There was a significant positive association between hypertension and TSH in subjects without a thyroid cyst (odds ratio [OR] 1.27; 95% confidence intervals [CI] 1.01, 1.61) but not in subjects with thyroid cysts (OR 0.79; CI 0.57, 1.09) in the model fully adjusted for known confounding factors. The correlation between the TSH and free triiodothyronine (fee T3) levels (simple correlation coefficient [r] = - 0.13, p < 0.01) was stronger in the subjects without thyroid cysts than in those with thyroid cysts (r = - 0.03, p = 0.525).

Conclusions:

TSH is positively associated with hypertension only in individuals without thyroid cysts. The correlation between the TSH and free T3 levels was stronger in the subjects without thyroid cysts than in those with thyroid cysts. Therefore, the absence of thyroid cysts could be related to the association between TSH level and hypertension, possibly by indicating that the subjects without thyroid cysts had limited thyroid hormone reserves. Therefore, the absence of thyroid cysts could indicate the latent functional damage of the thyroid.

Keywords:

Cross-sectional study Hypertension Normal thyroid function Thyroid cysts Thyroid-stimulating hormone

More Related Videos

Evaluation of the Cognitive Performance of Hypertensive Patients with Silent Cerebrovascular Lesions

Evaluation of the Cognitive Performance of Hypertensive Patients with Silent Cerebrovascular Lesions

Published on: April 23, 2021

Generation of a Mouse Spontaneous Autoimmune Thyroiditis Model

Generation of a Mouse Spontaneous Autoimmune Thyroiditis Model

Published on: March 17, 2023

Related Concept Videos

Synthesis and Regulation of Thyroid Hormones

Synthesis and Regulation of Thyroid Hormones

Low blood levels of the thyroid hormones — triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) — signal the hypothalamus to release the thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH). TRH then reaches the pituitary gland and stimulates the release of thyroid-stimulating hormone(TSH) into the bloodstream.
Upon reaching the thyroid gland, TSH stimulates the follicular cells' active uptake of iodide ions from the blood. The ions diffuse to the apical surface of the cells and are oxidized to iodine. The...

Hypertension III: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies

Hypertension III: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies

Hypertension is asymptomatic and also referred to as the "silent killer" until it progresses to a severe stage or causes target organ disease. Patients may experience symptoms stemming from the strain on blood vessels and tissues in various organs or the heart's increased workload.Physical exams might show no abnormalities other than high blood pressure. Signs of vascular damage, when present, correspond to the organs supplied by the affected vessels, leading to target organ damage. For...

Functions of Thyroid Hormones

Functions of Thyroid Hormones

The thyroid hormone (TH) plays a pivotal role in the intricate orchestration of physiological processes, exerting profound effects on development, metabolism, and homeostasis throughout different life stages.
TH is indispensable for the normal development and maturation of the skeletal, muscular, and nervous systems during fetal and childhood growth. It facilitates bone mineral turnover and regulates protein synthesis in developing tissues, contributing significantly to overall growth and...

Hypertension I: Introduction

Hypertension I: Introduction

Hypertension is a widespread, long-term medical condition where blood pressure in the arteries remains elevated. It is characterized by systolic blood pressure readings of 130 mm Hg or above or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) readings of 80 mm Hg or higher. Unmanaged hypertension poses significant health risks, making the distinction between primary (or essential) hypertension and secondary hypertension crucial, as their management and implications vary.Primary HypertensionPrimary hypertension,...

Hypertension II: Pathophysiology

Hypertension II: Pathophysiology

Hypertension is a chronic condition in which the blood's force against artery walls is excessively high, posing risks such as heart disease. The condition's underlying mechanisms involve complex interactions among the cardiovascular, kidney, and autonomic nervous systems.Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System (RAAS): This system significantly influences blood pressure regulation. When blood pressure decreases, the kidneys secrete renin. This enzyme transforms angiotensinogen, a plasma protein,...

The Thyroid Gland

The Thyroid Gland

The thyroid gland is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located in the neck and covers the anterior surface of the trachea. The gland has two lateral lobes connected by a thin tissue mass called the isthmus. Internally, each lobe comprises many small spherical structures known as thyroid follicles, surrounded by a network of blood vessels.
The follicles have a central cavity lined by simple cuboidal to squamous epithelial cells called follicular cells. These cells produce the glycoprotein...

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Association Between Chronic Kidney Disease and Subclinical Hypothyroidism Categorized by Hypertension Status.

Diseases (Basel, Switzerland)·2026

Development of the Japan College of Rheumatology guidance on musculoskeletal ultrasound scanning protocol in rheumatology practice (revised edition).

Modern rheumatology·2026

Efficacy and safety of filgotinib versus tocilizumab in active rheumatoid arthritis: A randomized, open-label, multicenter study with clinical and musculoskeletal ultrasound evaluation (TRANSFORM study).

Drug discoveries & therapeutics·2026

Subclinical hypothyroidism and height loss in relation to the status of thyroid cysts: a prospective study.

Environmental health and preventive medicine·2026

A proposal for the implementation of telemedicine in Japan for rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, and systemic lupus erythematosus: Review article.

Modern rheumatology·2026

Association between bedtime snacking and subclinical hypothyroidism.

Environmental health and preventive medicine·2026

See all related articles