Background/aims: Overt and subclinical hypothyroidism are reported to be associated with increased cardiovascular disease risk. We have used coronary flow reserve (CFR) measurement by trans-thoracic Doppler echocardiography (TTDE) to determine coronary microvascular function in Hashimoto's thyroiditis patients with overt and subclinical hypothyroidism and to evaluate effects of L-thyroxine replacement on coronary endothelial function.
Methods: In total, 10 overt hypothyroid patients, 10 subclinical hypothyroid patients, and 10 controls were enrolled. FT4, TSH, anti-thyroid antibodies, lipid profile, insulin, glucose, HOMA-IR, physical parameters, and CFR measured by TTDE were recorded before and after 6 months of L: -thyroxine replacement in all groups.
Results: CFR values of all hypothyroid patients at baseline were significantly lower than those in controls. After L: -thyroxine, CFR increased significantly in overt and subclinical hypothyroidism with respect to the baseline measurements (P < 0.05). When baseline and second measurements were evaluated collectively for patients and controls, CFR was positively correlated with FT4 levels (r = 0.31, P = 0.01) and negatively correlated with TSH and HOMA-IR (r = -0.38, P = 0.002 and r = -0.42, P < 0.001, respectively).
Conclusion: Subclinical as well as overt hypothyroid patients have impaired coronary microvascular function which improved after L: -thyroxine therapy. Treatment of Hashimoto's thyroiditis patients with subclinical hypothyroidism should be considered to improve cardiovascular disease risk.