Relationship of thyroid stimulating hormone with coronary atherosclerosis in angina patients.
BACKGROUND
In the previous recent reports, subclinical hypothyroidism is an independent risk factor for acute myocardial infarction in elderly women. It was not established whether a normal range of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) influences the presence of coronary atherosclerosis. We postulated that the level of TSH is risk factor of coronary atherosclerosis in angina patients who have normal thyroid function.


METHODS
We studied 344 angina patients (62.5+/-9.72 years, male 50%) who underwent elective coronary angiography. TSH, free thyroxine, serum lipid levels and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels were measured and compared to the severity of coronary artery disease.


RESULTS
In patients with high level of TSH (> or =2.1 microIU/mL), age (p=0.016), the levels of serum creatinine (p=0.004) and Gensini's score (p=0.016) were significantly higher than those in patients with low TSH levels. The incidence of multi-vessel disease was higher in patients with high TSH level (p=0.026). TSH level showed a significant correlation with age (r=0.109, p=0.044) and Gensini's score (r=0.117, p=0.045). The multivariate analysis revealed that age (OR 2.39, p=0.001), diabetes (OR 3.74, p=0.001), creatinine (OR 2.06, p=0.008), and smoking (OR 1.85, p=0.045) were independent predictors for significant coronary artery disease, but TSH level did not predict coronary artery stenosis.


CONCLUSIONS
Although the high level of serum TSH is associated with multi-vessel disease, it was not the determinant of coronary artery disease in patients with normal range of thyroid function.
Yun
Kyeong Ho
KH
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Wonkwang University Hospital, Iksan, South Korea.
Jeong
Myung Ho
MH
Oh
Seok Kyu
SK
Lee
Eun Mi
EM
Lee
Je
J
Rhee
Sang Jae
SJ
Yoo
Nam Jin
NJ
Kim
Nam-Ho
NH
Ahn
Young Keun
YK
Jeong
Jin-Won
JW
D000368:Aged; D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011859:Radiography; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood*; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood
D008055:Lipids; D013972:Thyrotropin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D013974:Thyroxine