Subclinical Thyroid Dysfunction and the Heart
Authors: A. M. Sawka, V. Fatourechi
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2003)

Letters18 November 2003Subclinical Thyroid Dysfunction and the HeartA. M. Sawka, MD and V. FatourechiA. M. Sawka, MDFrom St. Joseph's Hospital, Hamilton, Ontario L8N 4A6, Canada, and Mayo Clinic Rochester, Rochester, MN 55095.Search for more papers by this author and V. FatourechiFrom St. Joseph's Hospital, Hamilton, Ontario L8N 4A6, Canada, and Mayo Clinic Rochester, Rochester, MN 55095.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-139-10-200311180-00022 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail TO THE EDITOR:In a recent review, Biondi and colleagues (1) suggested that persistent subclinical hypothyroidism (TSH level >4.0 mU/L) should be treated and that the benefits of treatment include possible reduced risk for atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease. The authors stated, Striking evidence of a higher risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular death in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism emerged from the Rotterdam study. However, the Rotterdam study did not report cardiovascular deaths (2). In that study, the baseline prevalence of myocardial infarction (defined by self-report, electrocardiography, or both) and radiographic aortic calcification was increased in subclinically hypothyroid women compared with euthyroid ...References1. Biondi B, Palmieri EA, Lombardi G, Fazio S. Effects of subclinical thyroid dysfunction on the heart. Ann Intern Med. 2002;137:904-14. [PMID: 12458990] LinkGoogle Scholar2. Hak AE, Pols HA, Visser TJ, Drexhage HA, Hofman A, Witteman JC. Subclinical hypothyroidism is an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis and myocardial infarction in elderly women: the Rotterdam Study. Ann Intern Med. 2000;132:270-8. [PMID: 10681281] LinkGoogle Scholar3. Perk M, O'Neill BJ. The effect of thyroid hormone therapy on angiographic coronary artery disease progression. Can J Cardiol. 1997;13:273-6. [PMID: 9117915] MedlineGoogle Scholar4. Parle JV, Maisonneuve P, Sheppard MC, Boyle P, Franklyn JA. Prediction of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in elderly people from one low serum thyrotropin result: a 10-year cohort study. Lancet. 2001;358:861-5. [PMID: 11567699] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. Vanderpump MP, Tunbridge WM, French JM, Appleton D, Bates D, Clark F, . The development of ischemic heart disease in relation to autoimmune thyroid disease in a 20-year follow-up study of an English community. Thyroid. 1996;6:155-60. [PMID: 8837320] MedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: A. M. Sawka, MD; V. FatourechiAffiliations: From St. Joseph's Hospital, Hamilton, Ontario L8N 4A6, Canada, and Mayo Clinic Rochester, Rochester, MN 55095. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoSubclinical Hypothyroidism Is an Independent Risk Factor for Atherosclerosis and Myocardial Infarction in Elderly Women: The Rotterdam Study A. Elisabeth Hak , Huibert A.P. Pols , Theo J. Visser , Hemmo A. Drexhage , Albert Hofman , and Jacqueline C.M. Witteman Effects of Subclinical Thyroid Dysfunction on the Heart Bernadette Biondi , Emiliano A. Palmieri , Gaetano Lombardi , and Serafino Fazio Subclinical Thyroid Dysfunction and the Heart Bernadette Biondi , Emiliano A. Palmieri , Gaetano Lombardi , and Serafino Fazio Subclinical Thyroid Dysfunction and the Heart Johann Auer , Robert Berent , and Bernd Eber Metrics 18 November 2003Volume 139, Issue 10Page: 866KeywordsAtherosclerosisCardiovascular disease riskHormone replacement therapyHypothyroidismMortalityMyocardial infarctionStable coronary artery diseaseThyroidThyroid hormonesThyroid-stimulating hormone ePublished: 18 November 2003 Issue Published: 18 November 2003 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2003 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...