Hypothyroidism as a cause of secondary hypertension - Myth dispelled

Ever since Thompson et  al.1 decades ago observed a high incidence of hypertension in myxedema, hypothyroidism has been identified as a common form of so-called secondary hypertension. Streeten al.2 found in 40 thyrotoxic patients that the induction of hypothyroidism by radioiodine therapy significantly increased diastol ic blood pressure (BP), raising it above 90 mm Hg in 16 (40%) of the patients. The restoration of euthyroidism with thyroxine administration significantly reduced the systolic and diastolic BP in these patients, with a fall in diastolic BP below 90 mm Hg in nine of 16 patients.
Source: Journal of the American Society of Hypertension - Category: Cardiology Authors: Tags: Hypertension Highlight Source Type: research