Arq Bras Cardiol: Imagem cardiovasc 2017; 30(4): 126-131

Analysis of Right Ventricular Function in Patients with Hypothyroidism

DOI: 10.5935/2318-8219.20170033

Summary

Background

After many studies about the left ventricle (LV), little is known about the effect of thyroid hormones deprivation at the right ventricle (RV).

Objective

This study was aimed to evaluate the right ventricular function in patients who had hypothyroidism in different degrees of disease severity.

Methods

Eighteen patients with primary hypothyroidism were submitted to two-dimensional echocardiography evaluation, of which 10 (55,6%) had TSH < 12 mIU/L (less high TSH group) and 8 (44,4%) had TSH > 12 mIU/L (highest TSH group).

Results

By comparing the two groups, there were no differences in respect of LV global systolic function or diastolic function. There was neither difference related to right atrium or RV dimensions. About the right ventricular function, it was shown a difference in the myocardial performance index (Tei index), which was higher in patients who had TSH > 12 compared with patients who had TSH < 12 (0.52 ± 0.13 vs. 0.39 ± 0.08; p < 0.05), indicating worse right ventricular global function in those patients with the highest TSH levels. No differences were observed between these groups related to other variables, which are: percentage of systolic change in the VD area, TAPSE and peak systolic velocity. Variables of RV diastolic function (E/A tricuspid ratio and E/E’ tricuspid ratio), as well as pulmonary vascular resistance and pulmonary artery systolic pressure were not different between groups.

Conclusion

Patients with hypothyroidism who had the highest TSH levels, as compared to those with less high TSH, presented with a reduction at the overall right ventricular function, evaluated by myocardial performance index, not observed in other parameters of RV function evaluation. (Arq Bras Cardiol: Imagem cardiovasc. 2017;30(4):126-131)