Arterial stiffness is associated with high normal TSH in healthy postmenopausal women
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13 slide(s) – English – 2012-03-28
Arterial stiffness is associated with high normal TSH in healthy postmenopausal women
E. Armeni1, K. Stamatelopoulos2, D. Rizos3, G. Georgiopoulos2, M. Kazani2, A. Alexandrou1, E. Deligeoroglou1, M. Creatsa1, G. Bouboulis1, M. Alevizaki2, I. Lambrinoudaki1
1 2nd Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Athens, Aretaieio Hospital,
2 Department of Therapeutics, Univeristy of Athens, Alexandra Hospital,
3 Hormonal Laboratory, University of Athens, Aretaieio Hospital, Athínai, Greece
Introduction: A dysfunctional thyroid gland has been shown to affect the cardiovascular system. Thyroid function within the reference range may also have an impact on the vasculature.
Objective: To evaluate the association between thyroid function and surrogate markers of arterial structure and function in euthyroid postmenopausal women.
Methods: The present cross-sectional study recruited 106 healthy postmenopausal women with TSH levels within the laboratory reference range (0.4-4.5µIU/mL). Serum levels of TSH, free triiodothyronine, free thyroxin, serum thyroid peroxidase and thyroglobulin autoantibodies as well as biochemical parameters were evaluated. Anthropometric measures and blood pressure were also determined. Vascular structure and function were assessed by intima-media thickness, pulse wave velocity (PWV), augmentation index and flow-mediated dilation, respectively. We evaluated the associations between arterial markers and serum levels of thyroid hormones and autoantibodies.
Results: Mean measures of PWV increased linearly across increasing TSH quartiles (8.23±1.80m/s vs. 9.45±2.18m/s in quartiles Q1 and Q4 respectively, p-value=0.014). Women with serum TSH>2.5µIU/mL had higher PWV measures when compared to women with lower TSH levels (9.68±1.97m/s vs. 8.54±1.83; p-value=0.030). In multivariate analysis, age, insulin resistance and TSH>2.5µIU/mL were the only significant predictors of PWV. No associations were found between the remaining markers and levels of thyroid hormones, whereas thyroid antibodies were not associated with any of the arterial markers.
Discussion: Serum TSH in the upper reference range is associated with increased arterial stiffness. These results are supportive of the need of redefining the upper normal TSH range in postmenopausal women, with respect to cardiovascular benefit.
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