Nonthyroidal Illness Syndrome in Cardiac Illness Involves Elevated Concentrations of 3,5-Diiodothyronine and Correlates with Atrial Remodeling.
BACKGROUND
Although hyperthyroidism predisposes to atrial fibrillation, previous trials have suggested decreased triiodothyronine (T3) concentrations to be associated with postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF). Therapy with thyroid hormones (TH), however, did not reduce the risk of POAF. This study reevaluates the relation between thyroid hormone status, atrial electromechanical function and POAF.


METHODS
Thirty-nine patients with sinus rhythm and no history of atrial fibrillation or thyroid disease undergoing cardiac surgery were prospectively enrolled. Serum concentrations of thyrotropin, free (F) and total (T) thyroxine (T4) and T3, reverse (r)T3, 3-iodothyronamine (3-T1AM) and 3,5-diiodothyronine (3,5-T2) were measured preoperatively, complemented by evaluation of echocardiographic and electrophysiological parameters of cardiac function. Holter-ECG and telemetry were used to screen for POAF for 10 days following cardiac surgery.


RESULTS
Seven of 17 patients who developed POAF demonstrated nonthyroidal illness syndrome (NTIS; defined as low T3 and/or low T4 syndrome), compared to 2 of 22 (p < 0.05) patients who maintained sinus rhythm. In patients with POAF, serum FT3 concentrations were significantly decreased, but still within their reference ranges. 3,5-T2 concentrations directly correlated with rT3 concentrations and inversely correlated with FT3 concentrations. Furthermore, 3,5-T2 concentrations were significantly elevated in patients with NTIS and in subjects who eventually developed POAF. In multivariable logistic regression FT3, 3,5-T2, total atrial conduction time, left atrial volume index and Fas ligand were independent predictors of POAF.


CONCLUSIONS
This study confirms reduced FT3 concentrations in patients with POAF and is the first to report on elevated 3,5-T2 concentrations in cardiac NTIS. The pathogenesis of NTIS therefore seems to involve more differentiated allostatic mechanisms.
Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Medical Hospital I, Berlin, Germany.
Johannes W
JW
Dietrich
Department of Cardiology and Angiology, Medical Hospital II, Berlin, Germany ; Heart Center Bad Neustadt, Clinic for Interventional Electrophysiology, Bad Neustadt an der Saale, Berlin, Germany.
Patrick
P
Müller
Department of Cardiology and Angiology, Medical Hospital II, Berlin, Germany.
Fabian
F
Schiedat
Department of Cardiac Surgery, Bergmannsheil University Hospitals, Ruhr University of Bochum, Bochum, Berlin, Germany.
Markus
M
Schlömicher
Department of Cardiac Surgery, Bergmannsheil University Hospitals, Ruhr University of Bochum, Bochum, Berlin, Germany.
Justus
J
Strauch
Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Medical Hospital I, Berlin, Germany.
Apostolos
A
Chatzitomaris
Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Medical Hospital I, Berlin, Germany.
Harald H
HH
Klein
Department of Cardiology and Angiology, Medical Hospital II, Berlin, Germany.
Andreas
A
Mügge
Institut für Experimentelle Endokrinologie, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Josef
J
Köhrle
Institut für Experimentelle Endokrinologie, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Eddy
E
Rijntjes
Institut für Experimentelle Endokrinologie, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Ina
I
Lehmphul
3,5-Diiodothyronine; Atrial fibrillation; Nonthyroidal illness syndrome; Reverse triiodothyronine; TACITUS; Thyroid hormone