title: Pulsatility index in carotid arteries is increased in levothyroxine-treated Hashimoto disease.
abstract: The aim of this case-control study was to evaluate carotid hemodynamic variables and traditional cardiovascular risk factors in women with Hashimoto thyroiditis (HT). The study group consisted of 31 females with HT on levothyroxine (L-T4) and 26 euthyroid women with HT without L-T4 matched for age and body mass index (BMI) as controls. Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), carotid extra-media thickness (CEMT), and pulsatility indexes in common carotid artery (PI CCA) and in internal carotid artery (PI ICA) were measured. BMI, waist circumference, lipid profile, fasting glucose and insulin levels, and parameters of thyroid function [TSH, free thyroxine (FT4) and antithyroperoxidase antibodies (TPOAbs)] were assessed. The study and the control groups did not differ in age, BMI, waist circumference, lipid profile, fasting glucose, and insulin levels. Results are expressed as median (IQR). Treated HT group had higher FT4 levels than nontreated [17.13 (5.11) pmol/l vs. 14.7 (2.27) pmol/l; p=0.0011] and similar TSH [1.64 (2.08) IU/ml vs. 2.07 (3.14) IU/ml; p=0.5915]. PI CCA and PI ICA were higher in the study group than in controls (p=0.0224 and p=0.0477, respectively). The difference remained statistically significant for PI ICA and PI CCA after adjustment for other variables (coefficient=0.09487; standard error=0.04438; p=0.037 and coefficient=0.1786; standard error=0.0870; p=0.0449, respectively). CIMT and CEMT were similar in both groups (p=0.8746 and p=0.0712, respectively). Women with HT on L-T4 replacement therapy have increased PI in common and internal carotid arteries than nontreated euthyroid HT patients. Therefore, it seems that hypothyroidism, but not autoimmune thyroiditis per se, influences arterial stiffness.
authors: Department of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Internal Medicine, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Owecki
authors: Department of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Internal Medicine, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland.
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Sawicka-Gutaj
authors: Department of Neurology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland.
authors: M K
authors: MK
authors: Owecki
authors: Department of Neurology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland.
authors: W
authors: W
authors: Ambrosius
authors: Department of Neurology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Dorszewska
authors: Department of Neurology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Oczkowska
authors: Department of Informatics and Statistics, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Michalak
authors: Department of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Internal Medicine, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Fischbach
authors: Department of Neurology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland.
authors: W
authors: W
authors: Kozubski
authors: Department of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Internal Medicine, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Ruchała
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002343:Carotid Artery, Internal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D050031:Hashimoto Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011673:Pulsatile Flow / Q000502:physiology*; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use; D059289:Vascular Stiffness / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D013974:Thyroxine