Decrease of thyroid function after ischemic stroke is related to stroke severity

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Endocrinology
• Internal Medicine

Background:

• Thyroid hormones are crucial for brain function.
• Low triiodothyronine (fT3) levels post-acute ischemic stroke (AIS) correlate with poorer outcomes.
• The longitudinal dynamics of thyroid function following AIS are not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To longitudinally assess thyroid hormone levels after ischemic stroke.
• To investigate the relationship between stroke severity and thyroid function changes.

Main Methods:

• Prospective study tracking thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), fT3, and free thyroxin (fT4) levels.
• Evaluations conducted in hyper-acute (within 24h), acute (3-5 days), and chronic (3-6 months) stages.
• Mixed regression models used to analyze hormone dynamics and National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) correlations.

Main Results:

• TSH levels showed a non-significant decrease across stages.
• fT3 levels significantly decreased from hyper-acute to acute stages, then recovered by the chronic stage (p < 0.01).
• fT4 levels decreased acutely and showed a non-significant increase in the chronic stage (p = 0.02).
• Increased NIHSS score was associated with a significant decrease in fT3 from hyper-acute to acute stages (p < 0.01).

Conclusions:

• Ischemic stroke is associated with a transient decrease in thyroid hormones, particularly fT3.
• Stroke severity appears to influence these thyroid function changes.
• Further research is warranted to explore thyroid function correction as a potential therapeutic strategy for improving stroke outcomes.