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The Role of Thyroid Hormone in Blood Pressure Homeostasis: Evidence from Short-Term Hypothyroidism in Humans

National Council of Research, University of Pisa; and Cardiovascular and Neuroendocrine Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of Clinical Physiology, 56124 Pisa, Italy

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Giorgio Iervasi, M.D., Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Council of Research, Via Moruzzi 1-San Cataldo, 56124 Pisa, Italy. E-Mail: . iervasi{at}ifc.pi.cnr.it

Abstract

Arterial hypertension is known to be frequently associated with thyroid dysfunction, with a particularly high prevalence in chronic hypothyroidism. However, to our knowledge no comprehensive study addressed causal mechanisms possibly involved in this association. We here report the physiological relationships between blood pressure and neuro-humoral modifications induced by acute hypothyroidism in normotensive subjects. Twelve normotensive patients with previous total thyroidectomy were studied. Ambulatory 24-h blood pressure monitoring was performed, and free T₃, free T₄, TSH, PRA, aldosterone, cortisol, adrenaline, and noradrenaline were assayed 6 wk after oral L-T₄ withdrawal (phase 1) and 2 months after resumption of treatment (phase 2). During the hypothyroid state (TSH, 68.1 ± 27.7 µIU/ml; mean ± SD), daytime arterial systolic levels slightly, but significantly, increased (125.5 ± 9.7 vs. 120.4 ± 10.8 mm Hg; P < 0.05), and daytime diastolic levels (84.6 ± 7.9 vs. 76.4 ± 6.8 mm Hg; P < 0.001), noradrenaline (2954 ± 1578 vs. 1574 ± 962 pmol/liter; P < 0.001), and adrenaline (228.4 ± 160 vs. 111.3 ± 46.1 pmol/liter; P < 0.05) also increased. PRA remained unchanged (0.49 ± 0.37 vs. 0.35 ± 0.21 ng/ml·h; P = NS), whereas both aldosterone (310.3 ± 151 vs. 156.9 ± 67.5 pmol/liter; P < 0.005) and cortisol (409.2 ± 239 vs. 250.9 ± 113 pmol/liter; P < 0.02) significantly increased. By using univariate logistic regression daytime arterial diastolic values, noradrenaline and aldosterone were found to be significantly related to the hypothyroid state (P < 0.02, P < 0.036, and P < 0.024, respectively). In conclusion, our data show that thyroid hormones participate in the control of systemic arterial blood pressure homeostasis in normotensive subjects. The observed sympathetic and adrenal activation in hypothyroidism, which is reversible with thyroid hormone treatment, may also contribute to the development of arterial hypertension in human hypothyroidism.

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