Abnormal cardiac contractility in long-term exogenous subclinical hyperthyroid patients as demonstrated by two-dimensional echocardiography speckle tracking imaging.

BACKGROUND

Subclinical hyperthyroidism is associated with cardiovascular morbidity. Recent advances in echocardiography imaging have allowed sophisticated evaluation of myocardial tissue properties.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the myocardial effects of long-term exogenous subclinical hyperthyroidism using two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography imaging (2D-STE).

DESIGN

Prospective, single-blinded, placebo-controlled randomized trial of 6 months duration with two parallel groups.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Totally 25 patients with a history of differentiated thyroid carcinoma on long-term TSH-suppressive levothyroxine (l-T(4)) substitution were randomized to persistent TSH-suppressive l-T(4) substitution (low-TSH group) or restoration of euthyroidism. Additionally 40 euthyroid controls were studied. RESULTS (PROPOSAL): At baseline, the group of patients showed normal left ventricular (LV) systolic function but impaired diastolic function as assessed with conventional echocardiographic parameters. Importantly, 2D-STE analysis demonstrated the presence of subclinical LV systolic and diastolic dysfunction with impaired circumferential and longitudinal strain and strain rate at the isovolumic relaxation time. After restoration of euthyroidism, a significant improvement in LV systolic and diastolic function as assessed with 2D-STE strain was observed.

CONCLUSION

Prolonged subclinical hyperthyroidism leads to systolic and diastolic dysfunction, which is reversible after restoration of euthyroidism. 2D-STE is a more sensitive technique to evaluate subtle changes in LV performance of these patients.