PP.09.17

Objective: Thyroid hormone has important effects on cardiac muscle, the peripheral circulation, and the sympathetic nervous system that alter cardiovascular hemodynamics. There are data describing high systolic blood pressure (SBP) and low diastolic blood pressure (DBP) in subjects with hyperthyroidism. However the effects of anti-thyroid treatment on BP levels has not been investigated to an adequate extent. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the effects of anti-thyroid treatment on BP. Design and method: We recruited 44 patients with Grave's disease and 43 controls matched for age and gender. Patients with Grave's disease were treated with anti-thyroid medication to achieve an euthyroid status. Office BP levels were measured after 6 and 12 months in patients and controls according to international guidelines. Results: Systolic BP (SBP) was significantly higher in patients with Graves disease compared to controls (141.9 ± 15.1 vs 135.9 ± 16.6mmHg, p < 0.05 respectively). There was no difference in BP levels at 6 months follow up. At the end of the 12 months SBP was reduced significantly from baseline in the patient group (135.7 ± 13.9mmHg) and the control group (127.5 ± 10.8mmHg). However differences in SBP in the two groups from baseline to the end of the study were comparable (δSBP = −0.5 (105)mmHg, median(range) for patients and −5 (98) mmHg, for controls). Conclusions: Subjects with clinical hyperthyroidism have higher SBP than normal subjects. Anti-thyroid treatment reduced SBP levels in patients with Graves disease but it was comparable to the reduction observed in the control group.