Even mild changes in free thyroxine could influence the degree of heart failure measured by its biological surrogates

Both, severe hypo- or hyperthyroidism may alter hemodynamic parameters. The aim of our study was to ascertain, whether also distinct changes within normal range of free thyroxine (fT4) would be associated with an impairment of left ventricle function in patients with chronic heart failure. Hundred-forty-eight patients (m121, f27, mean age 63.8 +/- 1.14 years) with chronic heart failure, fT4 levels within the normal range (9-22 pmol/l) and without thyrostatics or substitution treatment. Degree of heart failure was quantified by plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and N-terminal pro-BNP (NT-proBNP). Patients with fT4 in the range 11.9-14.6 pmol/l [optimal, second-third quintile] had significantly lower NT-proBNP (718 +/- 70.4 pg/ml), than those with fT4 < or = 11.8 [low-normal, bottom quintile](1236 +/- 223.6 pg/ml; p<0.03) and those with fT4 over 14.6 pmol/l [high-normal, top two quintiles] (1192 +/- 114.9 pg/ml; p<0.0002). These differences remain significant, also if adjusted for age, gender and other confounders; adjusted odds ratio was 1.30 (1.05-1.59) for optimal vs. low-normal and 1.27 (1.04-1.55) for optimal vs. high-normal. Similar statistical differences were also found in BNP, but only when optimal and high-normal fT4 ranges were compared. In conclusion, the severity of heart failure seems to be also influenced by only mild deviations of fT4 concentrations from optimal levels.