title: Relationship between thyroid function and carotid artery plaque ulceration.
abstract: Carotid artery plaque ulceration (PU) is known to be associated with cerebrovascular events (CVE). Even within euthyroid ranges, thyroid function has been reported to be associated with carotid atherosclerosis. However, the relationship between thyroid function and carotid PU remains unclear. Our aim was to determine the relationship between thyroid function and PU in patients with internal carotid artery stenosis (ICS). Records of patients with CVE were retrospectively reviewed. A total of 250 consecutive patients with ICS who had computed tomography angiography (CTA) of the carotid arteries following hospitalization were included in the study. CTA was used for the evaluation of carotid artery plaque morphology and ulceration. Plaque morphology was classified as fatty, mixed or calcified. Patients were divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of PU. Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) and hypothyroidism were significantly more common in patients with PU (p < 0.001 and p = 0.003, respectively). Patients with PU had higher incidence of low-normal FT4 levels (p = 0.02). Compared with patients who had no PU, patients with PU had decreased FT4 levels and elevated TSH levels (p = 0.001 and p = 0.001, respectively). TSH level (OR 1.33, p = 0.001), SCH (OR 4.2, p = 0.001), hypothyroidism (OR 3.15, p = 0.037), fatty plaque (OR 2.16, p = 0.01) and calcified plaque (OR 0.19, p < 0.001) were independently associated with PU. Our results suggest that SCH and hypothyroidism could be a risk factor for PU and subsequent CVE. Thyroid functions may be useful for risk stratification of patients with ICS.
authors: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Diyarbakir Gazi Yasargil Education and Research Hospital, 3. kat, Uckuyular, 21010, Diyarbakir, Turkey. utkansevuk@gmail.com.
authors: Utkan
authors: U
authors: Sevuk
authors: Department of General Surgery, Dicle University, Diyarbakir, Turkey. mvbahadir@yahoo.com.
authors: Mehmet Veysi
authors: MV
authors: Bahadir
authors: Department of Cardiology, Diyarbakir Gazi Yasargil Education and Research Hospital, Diyarbakir, Turkey. rojhataltindag@hotmail.com.
authors: Rojhat
authors: R
authors: Altindag
authors: Department of Cardiology, Diyarbakir Gazi Yasargil Education and Research Hospital, Diyarbakir, Turkey. dr.erkan.baysal@hotmail.com.
authors: Erkan
authors: E
authors: Baysal
authors: Department of Cardiology, Diyarbakir Gazi Yasargil Education and Research Hospital, Diyarbakir, Turkey. drbernas@yahoo.com.tr.
authors: Bernas
authors: B
authors: Altintas
authors: Department of Cardiology, Diyarbakir Gazi Yasargil Education and Research Hospital, Diyarbakir, Turkey. bryaylak@yahoo.com.
authors: Baris
authors: B
authors: Yaylak
authors: Department of Cardiology, Diyarbakir Gazi Yasargil Education and Research Hospital, Diyarbakir, Turkey. drsahinadiyaman@hotmail.com.
authors: Mehmet Sahin
authors: MS
authors: Adiyaman
authors: Department of General Surgery, Diyarbakir Gazi Yasargil Education and Research Hospital, Diyarbakir, Turkey. nurettinay77@hotmail.com.
authors: Nurettin
authors: N
authors: Ay
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002343:Carotid Artery, Internal / Q000473:pathology*; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D013972:Thyrotropin; D013974:Thyroxine
keywords: Carotid artery stenosis; FT4; Plaque ulceration; TSH; Thyroid function