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Author Spotlight: Integrating Ultrasound Imaging with Biochemical Markers for Thyroid Disease Diagnosis
Published on: February 9, 2024
Thyroid disorders and cardiovascular manifestations: an update
Stavroula A Paschou1, Evanthia Bletsa2, Panagiota K Stampouloglou2
1Endocrine Unit and Diabetes Centre, Department of Clinical Therapeutics, Alexandra Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece. s.a.paschou@gmail.com.
Insights
Thyroid disorders significantly impact cardiovascular health, increasing mortality risk. Early management of hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism is crucial for cardiovascular disease prevention.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Cardiology
- Molecular Medicine
Background:
- Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading global cause of death.
- Thyroid disorders affect over 10% of adults, presenting a significant public health challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the physiological role of thyroid hormones in the cardiovascular system.
- To detail cardiovascular manifestations in thyroid disorders, focusing on molecular and biochemical pathways.
- To summarize current therapeutic strategies for thyroid-related cardiovascular complications.
Main Methods:
- Literature review synthesizing existing research on thyroid hormones and cardiovascular function.
- Analysis of molecular mechanisms linking thyroid dysfunction to cardiovascular pathologies.
- Review of clinical guidelines and treatment options for managing cardiovascular aspects of thyroid disorders.
Main Results:
- Thyroid hormone receptors in myocardium and vessels directly influence cardiovascular function.
- Both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism, even subclinical forms, can accelerate CVD progression.
- Thyroid disorders contribute to dyslipidemia, hypertension, myocardial dysfunction, and endothelial dysfunction.
Conclusions:
- Thyroid hormone levels critically affect cardiovascular health.
- Untreated thyroid disorders significantly elevate cardiovascular mortality.
- Targeted management of subclinical hypothyroidism in younger and subclinical hyperthyroidism in elderly populations is recommended.
Abstract:
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of death worldwide, representing a major health, social, and economic issue. Thyroid disorders are very common and affect >10% of the adult population in total. The aim of this review is to describe the physiologic role of thyroid hormones on cardiovascular system, to present cardiovascular manifestations in patients with thyroid disorders, emphasizing in molecular mechanisms and biochemical pathways, and to summarize current knowledge of treatment options. Thyroid hormone receptors are located both in myocardium and vessels, and changes in their concentrations affect cardiovascular function. Hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism, both clinical and subclinical, without the indicated therapeutical management, may contribute to the progression of CVD. According to recent studies, even middle changes in thyroid hormones levels increase cardiovascular mortality from 20% to 80%. In more details, thyroid disorders seem to have serious effects on the cardiovascular system via plenty mechanisms, including dyslipidemia, hypertension, systolic and diastolic myocardial dysfunction, as well endothelial dysfunction. On top of clinical thyroid disorders management, current therapeutics focus on younger patients with subclinical hypothyroidism and elderly patients with subclinical hyperthyroidism.
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