Impairment of muscle vasodilation during mental stress in women with subclinical hypothyroidism

Abstract

To test the hypothesis that women with subclinical hypothyroidism (SH) have forearm vascular conductance (FVC) impaired during mental stress. We evaluated 20 women with SH and 21 euthyroid (Control group), matched for age (p = 0.699) and body mass index (p = 0.462). Muscle blood flow (MBF) was assessed by venous occlusion plethysmography and blood pressure by Dixtal2023. Both variables were recorded simultaneously for 3 minutes of baseline followed by 3 minutes of mental stress. The FVC was calculated by dividing MBF by mean arterial pressure. Significant differences were assumed at p < 0.05. The SH group had higher concentrations of thyroid stimulating hormone (7.57 ± 3.17 vs. 2.10 ± 0,88 mU/L, p < 0.001). At baseline, the SH and control groups were similar for MBF (2.50 ± 0.79 vs. 2.55 ± 0,71 mL/ min/100 mL, p = 0.905, respectively) and FVC (2.80 ± 0.90 vs. 2.92 ± 0.88 units, p = 0.952, respectively). Throughout the mental stress test the SH and Control groups increased the MBF (time effect, p < 0.001) and FVC (time effect, p < 0.001) compared to baseline protocol. However, these variables were lower in SH group during the first (MBF: 3.66 ± 0.96 vs. 4.66 ± 1,61 mL/min/100 mL, p = 0.018, FVC: 3.95 ± 1.08 vs. 5.19 ± 1,96 units, p = 0.010) and second (MBF: 3.55 ± 1.01 vs. 4.62 ± 2,27 mL/min/100 ml, p = 0.018; FVC: 3.75 ± 1.07 vs. 4.92 ± 2,37 units, p = 0.020) minutes of mental stress test. Women with SH have reduced muscle vasodilatatory response during mental stress.