The Medical Journal of Basrah University

Abstract

Objective: To study the association between hypertension and hypothyroidism.
Patients and Methods: Sixty two female patients enrolled in this study were selected from eighty three patients
consulted the Endocrine and Diabetic Center in Al-Mawani General Hospital during the period from January 2009 to
December 2011 and presented with features of hypothyroidism. Each patient was interviewed, examined for body
mass index and blood pressure measurements. Twenty one patients were excluded from the study fasting blood
samples were analyzed to determine FT3, FT4, TSH, prolactin and total cholesterol levels.
Results: The level of systolic and diastolic blood pressure in overt hypothyroidism in comparison to subclinical
hypothyroidism showed a dramatic response to thyroxine replacement. Mean difference (95% CI after treatment with
L-thyroxine for systolic (SBP) (19.78-29.31 mmHg) and (10.98-17.07 mmHg) for diastolic blood pressure (DBP) in
overt hypothyroidism, while the mean difference (95% CI in subclinical form is (2.79-8.49 mmHg) for systolic (SBP)
and (0.1-3.24 mmHg) for diastolic (DBP) blood pressure.
Conclusion: Systolic and diastolic hypertension in hypothyroidism is a common association but the response of
blood pressure to replacement with thyroxine was significant in overt hypothyroidism in comparison to subclinical
hypothyroidism, while only systolic component had responded to replacement therapy in subclinical type.