title: Relationship of thyroid stimulating hormone with coronary atherosclerosis in angina patients.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Wonkwang University Hospital, Iksan, South Korea.
authors.forename: Kyeong Ho
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Yun
authors.forename: Myung Ho
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.forename: Seok Kyu
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Eun Mi
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Je
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sang Jae
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Rhee
authors.forename: Nam Jin
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: Nam-Ho
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Young Keun
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Jin-Won
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Jeong
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids; D013972:Thyrotropin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D013974:Thyroxine