Perhaps there is a bit of a jump to the conclusion that vitamin D is the cause, nevertheless, any association between vitamin D and blood flow, and specifically in Hashimoto's patients, is probably of interest. (Even though the journal may not be a premier ranking one.)
Pak J Med Sci. 2017 Mar-Apr;33(2):295-299. doi: 10.12669/pjms.332.12566.
Association of vitamin D insufficiency/deficiency with thyroid artery Doppler ultrasonography in patients with Hashimoto thyroiditis.
Nalbant A1, Aydin A2, Karacan A3, Onmez A4, Tamer A5, Cinemre H6.
Author information
1 Dr. Ahmet Nalbant, Assistant Professor, Departments of Internal Medicine, Sakarya University School of Medicine, Sakarya, Turkey.
2 Dr. Ayhan Aydin, Internal Medicine Consultant, Departments of Internal Medicine, Sakarya University School of Medicine, Sakarya, Turkey.
3 Dr. Alper Karacan, Assistant Professor, Radiology Consultant, Departments of Radiology, Sakarya University School of Medicine, Sakarya, Turkey.
4 Dr. Attila Onmez, Assistant Professor, Departments of Internal Medicine, Düzce University School of Medicine, Turkey.
5 Prof. Dr. Ali Tamer, Departments of Internal Medicine, Sakarya University School of Medicine, Sakarya, Turkey.
6 Prof. Dr. Hakan Cinemre, Departments of Internal Medicine, Sakarya University School of Medicine, Sakarya, Turkey.
Abstract
BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE:
During the course of the autoimmune thyroid diseases, ultrasonography change parallel to histopathology. Vitamin D is associated with autoimmune diseases and thus can affect thyroid blood flow. Our aim was to investigate the relationship between vitamin D insufficiency/deficiency and thyroid hemodynamic indices in patients with Hashimoto thyroiditis.
METHODS:
A total of 93 patients who presented to Sakarya University Endocrinology outpatient clinic from April to September 2016 and diagnosed with Hashimoto thyroiditis were included in this study. Clinical and serologic data, thyroid antibodies and 25(OH)D3 were evaluated. Mean peak systolic velocity(mPSV), mean end-diastolic velocity (EDV), mean resistive index (RI) flows of superior and inferior thyroid arteries were measured with B-mode Doppler ultrasonography.
RESULTS:
Vitamin D insufficiency/deficiency was detected in 59 (63.4%). TPO Ab and TgAb levels were found higher in patients with vitamin D insufficiency/deficiency. In the normal vitamin D group, superior thyroid artery mPSV (32.21±6.73cm/s) and EDV(13.27±2.80 cm/s) were higher than in the low vitamin D group [mPSV (28.32±8.99cm/s) and EDV(10.67±3.68 cm/s)] (P=0.034, P=0.001, respectively). Inferior thyroid artery EDV value was higher in the normal compared to the low vitamin D group (0.032). RI measured in all arteries were higher in the vitamin D insufficient/deficient group compared to the Vitamin D normal group (p=0.001).
CONCLUSION:
Vitamin-D insufficiency/deficiency has led to reduced parenchymal blood supply and increased micro-vascular resistance in Hashimoto thyroiditis patients.
KEYWORDS:
Doppler ultrasonography; Hashimoto thyroiditis; Resistive index; Vitamin D
PMID: 28523025
PMCID: PMC5432692
DOI: 10.12669/pjms.332.12566