Arterial stiffness is increased in subjects with hypothyroidism.
BACKGROUND
The association between hypothyroidism and increased vascular resistance, arterial wall thickening and endothelial dysfunction is well recognized. The aim of the present study was to examine if hypothyroid subjects have increased arterial stiffness, a risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.


METHODS
Sixty-five subjects (59 females and 6 males) with normal thyroid function or hypothyroidism of varying degree were investigated by radial artery applanation tonometry and pulse wave analysis, for evaluation of arterial stiffness.


RESULTS
Serum TSH values were positively correlated with central systolic blood pressure (r=0.258, p=0.037), central pulse pressure (r=0.316, p=0.010), augmentation pressure (r=0.299, p=0.015) and negatively with reflection time index (RTI), which indicates the pressure wave velocity (r=-0.311, p=0.012). Hypothyroid patients presented higher central systolic pressure and pulse pressure, higher augmentation pressure and lower RTI, indicating increased arterial stiffness in these subjects. RTI was independently related to age, central systolic pressure and TSH. Mild changes of arterial stiffness were observed even in subjects with TSH range 2.01-4.0 muU/ml suggesting that this group may have an early stage of mild thyroid failure.


CONCLUSIONS
Hypothyroidism, even in the subclinical stage, is associated with changes in arterial stiffness. The observed abnormalities in arterial stiffness may have detrimental effects on left ventricular function and coronary perfusion in hypothyroid subjects.
Dagre
Anna G
AG
Vascular Laboratory, Department of Clinical Therapeutics, Alexandra University Hospital, Athens, Greece.
Lekakis
John P
JP
Papaioannou
Theodore G
TG
Papamichael
Christos M
CM
Koutras
Demetrios A
DA
Stamatelopoulos
Stamatios F
SF
Alevizaki
Maria
M
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D017534:Radial Artery / Q000503:physiopathology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood; D014284:Triiodothyronine / Q000097:blood; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000502:physiology*
D015415:Biomarkers; D014284:Triiodothyronine; D013972:Thyrotropin; D013974:Thyroxine