Colloid Goiter and Atherosclerosis

The thyroid glands from 453 patients 20 to 79 years of age from the New Orleans area were classified according to the presence of colloid goiter, and the coronary arteries and aortas from these same patients were independently graded for atherosclerotic lesions. There was no correlation between colloid goiter and atherosclerosis; nor was there any difference in the percentages of deaths from atherosclerosis in goitrous patients as compared to nongoitrous patients. Because goiter may differ in its functional manifestations from one geographic area to another, and because one group of investigators in Finland has reported a strong association between the two diseases, similar studies should be conducted in other areas. The subject of increased severity of atherosclerosis in human hypothyroidism was reviewed, and it was concluded that the presently recorded data are not adequate to establish a positive relationship.