ABSTRACT
To investigate whether or not patients with subclinical hypothyroidism [SH] have increased epicardial adipose tissue [EAT]. Sixty-one patients with newly diagnosed SH and without any known cardiovascular disease were enrolled. Twenty-four subjects matched for age, gender and body mass index without any thyroid dysfunctions were included as a control group. The EAT was measured by echocardiography and thyroid functions were assessed by routine blood examination. Patients with SH had higher EAT values than control subjects [3.6 +/- 0.9 vs. 2.8 +/- 1.4, p = 0.005]. Also, SH patients with thyroid-stimulating hormone [TSH] >/= 10 mU/l had higher EAT than those with SH with TSH <10 mU/l and control subjects [p = 0.013]. In addition, while there was significant correlation between EAT and TSH [r = 0.31, p = 0.014] in patients with SH, there was no significant relation between EAT and TSH in normal subjects [r = 0.09, p = 0.64]. There was a higher level of EAT in patients with SH compared with normal subjects and a significant correlation between EAT and TSH was found