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Elastic Properties of the Ascending Aorta and Left Ventricular Function in Patients with Hypothyroidism
Author(s) -
Özhan Hakan,
Yazici Mehmet,
Albayrak Sinan,
Erbilen Enver,
Bulur Serkan,
Akdemir Ramazan,
Uyan Cihangir
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
echocardiography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.404
H-Index - 62
eISSN - 1540-8175
pISSN - 0742-2822
DOI - 10.1111/j.0742-2822.2005.00189.x
Subject(s) - medicine , isovolumetric contraction , cardiology , ascending aorta , diastolic function , levothyroxine , diastole , blood pressure , aorta , thyroid
Background: We sought to clarify the possible role of elastic properties of the ascending aorta in the development of cardiac disease associated with hypothyroidism (HT). Methods: A total of 37 patients with HT (age: 39.3 ± 8.9 years) and 29 control subjects were studied. Ascending Aortic (Ao) diameter, Ao elastic indexes, strain (AoST), distensibility (AoD), stiffness index (AoSI), and pressure strain modulus were calculated from the echocardiographically derived Ao diameters. Myocardial performance index (MPI), E/A ratio, isovolumetric relaxation time (IVRT), deceleration time (DT) were measured by Doppler echocardiography to assess diastolic LV function. Patients were treated with levothyroxine and followed‐up for 6 months. Thyroid function tests and echocardiographic measurements were repeated at the end of the study. Results: AoD (cm 2 dyn −1 10 −3 ) and AoST (%) were significantly lower (3.8 vs. 6.1; P < 0.001, 7.4 vs. 12.6, P < 0.001; respectively), whereas AoSI was higher in HT patients (6.2 vs. 3.3; P < 0.001). After treatment, AoD and AoST were increased (5.7; P < 0.001 and 11.8; P < 0.001; respectively), whereas AoSI was decreased significantly (3.7; P < 0.001). Also, early/late mitral peak velocity ratio (Emax/Amax) was significantly lower in HT patients (1.19 vs 1.34; P < 0.01), whereas MPI was higher (0.52 vs. 0.42; P < 0.001). MPI showed a strong correlation with aortic root indexes [AoST (r =−0.61/P < 0.001); AoD, (r =−0.57/P < 0.002); AoSI, (r = 0.53/P < 0.005)] in the HT group. After 6 months of therapy, MPI significantly decreased P < 0.001) and E/A ratios were normalized (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Ao root functions have an important role on diastolic LV function. Levothyroxine replacement therapy can reverse all of these adverse effects of HT.