Aim:
The aim of this study was to investigate N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) as a marker of early cardiac dysfunction in patients with hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism without any clinical and echocardiographic cardiac problem.
Methods:
A total of 53 patients (13 male and 40 female), who were newly diagnosed with thyroid disease and 40 healthy controls who attended our internal medicine outpatient clinic, were included in the study. The patients had no history of any disease and, all of them were with newly diagnosed overt hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism. Routine biochemical tests, and thyroid function tests were done and NT-proBNP levels were measured. Electrocardiograms and echocardiograms were performed.
Results:
There were 28 patients with hypothyroidsm and 25 patients with hyperthyroidism in the study group. The mean age of hypothyroidism group was higher than that of hyperthyroidism group. The mean NT-proBNP levels were significantly higher in the patient group when compared to the control group (p=0.019). When the two groups of patients were compared with the control group separately, the level of NT-proBNP was significantly higher in hypothyroidism group (p=0.0096) and hyperthyroidism group (p=0.0415).
Conclusion:
Elevated NT-proBNP levels are an important marker that suggests worse prognosis in heart failure and coronary artery disease. Elevated serum NT-proBNP levels might be a valuable marker to detect early cardiac dysfunction in patients with overt hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism.
Keywords: Hyperthyroidsim, hypothyroidism, cardiac dysfunction, NT-proBNP