Background and Objectives：Overt and subclinical hypothyroidism is known to be associated with developing atherosclerosis and adverse changes in blood lipid. There has been no data regarding the effects of a normal range of thyroid hormone on the presence of coronary atherosclerosis.
Subjects and Methods：We studied 125 consecutive patients (age: 60.0±11.1 years, male: female=84: 41) who underwent diagnostic coronary angiography. The clinical diagnoses on admission were stable angina (32.0%), unstable angina (53.6%), and acute myocardial infarction (14.4%). The thyroid hormones [thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine and free 3-iodothyronine], serum lipid levels, high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) level, homocysteine and fibrinogen levels were measured. The coronary angiographic results were compared with laboratory findings.
Results：The angiographic diagnoses of coronary artery disease were no significant stenosis in 41 patients (32.8%), single vessel disease in 47 patients (37.6%) and multivessel disease in 37 patients (29.6%). The serum TSH levels showed a trend toward higher levels in the patients with multivessel disease compared to the patients with no significant stenosis (1.22±0.96 uIU/mL vs. 0.73±0.53 uIU/mL, respectively, p=0.053). According to the levels of TSH (<1.0 uIU/mL and ≥1.0 IU/mL), the incidence of multivessel disease was significantly higher in the patients with high serum TSH levels (23.1% vs. 40.0%, respectively, p=0.038). A significant correlation was observed between the levels of TSH and the monocyte count (r=0.251, p=0.005), hsCRP level (r=0.208, p=0.023) and homocysteine level (r=0.279, p=0.002).
Conclusion：The high level of serum TSH is associated with multivessel disease, abnormal inflammatory markers and high homocysteine levels.
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