Left and right ventricular structure and function in subclinical hypothyroidism: The effects of one-year levothyroxine treatment

[helvella]

Despite evidence such as this paper, too many doctors seem totally unwilling to accept that subclinical hypothyroidism really should be treated - despite often not understanding the causes.

This paper seems to claim that the heart positively improves when subclinical hypothyroidism is treated.

Med Sci Monit. 2013 Nov 10;19:960-8. doi: 10.12659/MSM.889621.

Left and right ventricular structure and function in subclinical hypothyroidism: The effects of one-year levothyroxine treatment.

Ilic S, Tadic M, Ivanovic B, Caparevic Z, Trbojevic B, Celic V.

Source

Department of Endocrinology, University Clinical Hospital Center "Dr Dragisa Misovic", Belgrade, Serbia.

Abstract

Background The aim of this study was to investigate left ventricular (LV) and right ventricular (RV) structure, function, and mechanics in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism (SHT), and to evaluate the effect of a 1-year levothyroxine treatment. Material and Methods We compared 45 untreated women with subclinical hypothyroidism and 35 healthy control women matched by age. All the subjects underwent laboratory analyses, which included a thyroid hormone levels (free T3, free T4, and TSH) test, and a complete 2-dimensional echocardiographic study. All the SHT patients received levothyroxine therapy and were followed for a year after euthyroid state was achieved. Results The LV mass index in the SHT participants before and after replacement therapy was significantly higher than in controls. In the SHT patients before the treatment, LV diastolic function and global function estimated by the Tei index were significantly impaired, whereas the LV systolic function was decreased. The results show that LV mechanics was significantly impaired in the SHT patients at baseline. Additionally, the SHT participants before levothyroxine substitution had increased RV wall thickness and significantly impaired RV diastolic and global function in comparison with the controls or the SHT subjects after the treatment. Furthermore, RV mechanics was also significantly deteriorated in the SHT patients before the treatment.

Conclusions Subclinical hypothyroidism significantly affected LV and RV structure, systolic, diastolic and global function, and LV and RV mechanics. Levothyroxine replacement therapy significantly improved cardiac structure, function, and mechanics in the SHT patients.

PMID: 24217559 [PubMed - in process]

PMCID: PMC3829699

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/242...

Full text available from PubMed Central here:

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

Related paper seems to concur:

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/241...

Rod

Image is anterior ventricles of the heart.

[humanbean]

This is very interesting. I have had increasing heart/chest pain over the last 15 - 18 months (undiagnosed despite investigations) which T3 is helping massively.

Have you seen these articles from Pulse Today (free registration required)?

pulsetoday.co.uk/thyroxine-...

(Thyroxine ‘reduces CVD risk by 40%’ in under 70s)

The above article was published on 26 April 2012.

This was followed on 15 October 2013 by this article :

pulsetoday.co.uk/clinical/t...

(Third of patients on levothyroxine have no reason to take the drug, claim researchers)

and then on 29 October 2013 this article was published :

pulsetoday.co.uk/clinical/d...

(Dilemma: Doubt over thyroxine prescription)

The third article in particular I found jaw dropping stuff.

[PinkNinja in reply to humanbean]

Those last two are quite shocking aren't they? It is interesting how the papers that reach the spotlight are those that suit the establishment's plans at the time...

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to humanbean]

Yes - thank goodness that some thyroidally-challenged people posted their views. (Though how much impact they have is definitely open to question!)

Anyone who has not seen them would do well to sign up (for free) and have a read.

[PinkNinja]

I, for one, have particularly noticed an improvement in my heart since getting proper thyroid treatment. For me it has been a case of going on to T3 only. Brachycardia - gone! Arrhythmia - almost gone, most of the time! Circulation - greatly improved (no more blue lips after sitting still for 20 minutes).

I wish doctors would pay attention to papers like this one rather than those last two that humanbean posted. Imagine the increase in the number of people leading productive lives!

[shaws Administrator in reply to PinkNinja]

To get their lives/health back is no mean feat - and if T3 does it for them, why not at least give them a trial.