The Evaluation of Epicardial Fat Thickness and Carotid Intima-Media Thickness in the Patients with Subclinical and Overt Hypothyroidism

Abstract

Bacgrounds: The studies conducted have shown that epicardial fat thickness (EFT) and Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) are closely associated with cardiovascular diseases and that this may be an indicator for the prediction of early atherosclerosis. In this study, we have attempted to identify EFT and CIMT in patients with hypothyroidism and to reveal the relationship between them and thyroid hormones.Material and method: 82 patients diagnosed with primary hypothyroidism and 37 patients from healthy control group were included in the study. The subclinic hypothyroidism group (SH) was made up of 50 patients; the overt hypothyroidism group (OH) was composed of 32 patients. Cases’ thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), FT3, FT4, thyroperoxidase antibodies (anti-tpo) and anti-tiroglobulin antibodies (anti-tg) were studied. Their EFT and CIMT values were measured. The statistical analysis was applied to EFT and CIMT. Results: Compared with the CG, the thickness of epicardial fat tissue increased in OH and SH groups (p<0,001, p<0,001 respectively). In terms of EFT, there was no significant difference between OH and SH groups. Compared with the CG, the mean CIMT increased in OH and SH (p<0,001, p<0.001 respectively), but there was no significant difference between OH and SH in terms of CIMT. In addition, there was a positive correlation between EFT and CIMT (p<0.001). Conclusions: The measurement of EFT and CIMT can be used as a marker for the diagnosis of early atherosclerosis both in OH and in SH patients. Because the thickness of EFT and CIMT increased in patients with SH who are debated as to whether they should be treated, it leads us to think that these patients should be treated in order to reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases in these patients.