BMC Cardiovascular Disorders (May 2010)

Increased carotid IMT in overweight and obese women affected by Hashimoto's thyroiditis: an adiposity and autoimmune linkage?

  • Pietro Guida,
  • Iacoviello Massimo,
  • Caldarola Pasquale,
  • Scicchitano Pietro,
  • Porcelli Maria T,
  • De Pergola Giovanni,
  • Ciccone Marco M,
  • Giorgino Francesco,
  • Favale Stefano

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2261-10-22
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 10, no. 1
p. 22

Abstract

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Abstract Background Hashimoto's thyroiditis is the most important cause of hypothyroidism. It is a systemic disease that can even affect the cardiovascular system, by accelerating the atherosclerotic process. Aim of this study was to examine whether autoimmune thyroiditis has an effect on the intima-media thickness of the common carotid artery (IMT-CCT), independently of the thyroid function and well-known cardiovascular risk factors. Hashimoto's thyroiditis is a systemic disease. The aim is to examine whether autoimmune thyroiditis and adiposity can effect carotid IMT independently of thyroid hormones and cardiovascular risk factors. Methods A total of 104 obese women (BMI ≥ 25.0 kg/m-2), with FT3 and FT4 serum levels in the normal range and TSH levels Results Of the 104 women, 30 (28.8%) were affected by autoimmune thyroiditis. Significantly higher values of IMT-CCT (p Conclusions The present study shows that Hashimoto's thyroiditis is associated to an increased IMT only in overweight and obese, independently of the thyroid function, BMI and cardiovascular risk factors. These results suggest that Hashimoto's thyroiditis is a marker of evolution of the atherosclerosis if combined to adiposity.