Prognostic value of total triiodothyronine and free thyroxine levels for the heart failure in patients with acute myocardial infarction

Abstract

Background/Aims

Although a low triiodothyronine (T3) state is closely associated with heart failure (HF), it is uncertain whether total T3 levels on admission is correlated with the clinical outcomes of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The aim of this study is to investigate the prognostic value of total T3 levels for major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs) in patients with AMI undergone percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods

A total of 765 PCI-treated AMI patients (65.4 ± 12.6 years old, 215 women) between January 2012 and July 2014 were included and 1-year MACCEs were analyzed. We assessed the correlation of total T3 and free thyroxine (fT4) with prevalence of 1-year MACCEs and the predictive values of total T3, fT4, and the ratio of total T3 to fT4 (T3/fT4), especially for HF requiring re-hospitalization.

Results

Thirty patients (3.9%) were re-hospitalized within 12 months to control HF symptoms. Total T3 levels were lower in the HF group than in the non-HF group (84.32 ± 21.04 ng/dL vs. 101.20 ± 20.30 ng/dL, p < 0.001). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed the cut-offs of total T3 levels (≤ 85 ng/dL) and T3/fT4 (≤ 60) for HF (area under curve [AUC] = 0.734, p < 0.001; AUC = 0.774, p < 0.001, respectively). In multivariate analysis, lower T3/fT4 was an independent predictor for 1-year HF in PCI-treated AMI patients (odds ratio, 1.035; 95% confidential interval, 1.007 to 1.064; p = 0.015).

Conclusions

Lower levels of total T3 were well correlated with 1-year HF in PCI-treated AMI patients. The T3/fT4 levels can be an additional marker to predict HF.

INTRODUCTION

In cardiovascular systems, triiodothyronine (T3) increases heart rate, myocardial contractility, and cardiac output. It also decreases systemic vascular resistance and improves diastolic relaxation [1,2]. The concentration of thyroid hormones can be deranged and affect homeostasis in individuals with severe illness. Generally, the active free T3 levels are blunted and reverse T3 levels are increased by inhibition of normal type 1 deiodinase or reduced clearance of reverse T3. This altered thyroid hormonal status due to poor general condition has been named “non-thyroidal illness syndrome (NTIS)” or “euthyroid sick syndrome” [1,3].

Among various acute or chronic illnesses related to NTIS, heart failure (HF) and acute myocardial infarction (AMI) have been well known conditions. Although the lowering T3 is commonly interpreted as adaptive and beneficial in acute stage of the conditions, the persistently lasting low T3 levels might contribute to the progressive deterioration of cardiac function and myocardial remodeling process [4]. Iervasi et al. [5] reported that low serum T3 levels in admitted subjects with various cardiac problems reflect the severity and prognosis of cardiovascular diseases and were correlated with poor clinical outcomes. To the best of our knowledge, only a few studies [3,6,7] reported on the predictive values of the levels of thyroid hormones including reverse T3 for a prognosis of patient with AMI treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, the measurement of reverse-form of T3 is a costly and time-consuming method in clinical practice. In this retrospective cohort study, we aimed to evaluate the levels of total T3 and free thyroxine (fT4) at arrival to emergency department (ED) in 765 PCI-treated AMI patients and investigate the prognostic value of the hormonal status for 1-year major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs), especially HF requiring re-hospitalization.

METHODS

Patients

We retrospectively evaluated 987 AMI patients who had been admitted to the cardiac intensive care unit at Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Korea, between January 2012 and July 2014. Patients were eligible if they were ≥ 18 years of age with ST-segment elevation AMI and non-ST elevation AMI by significant coronary artery stenosis treated with PCI. The diagnosis and treatment of patients were based on the current American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association guidelines for the management of patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction and non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome [8]. We excluded patients with AMI by vasospasm. For this study, 145 patients were excluded because of thyroid disease; who had been treated with previous or current thyroid diseases, and who were suspected thyroid disease with extremely abnormal thyroid hormone levels (thyroid stimulating hormone [TSH], > 9 mU/L; or fT4, > 3.0 ng/dL) [3]. During follow-up period, 77 patients dropped out because of no follow-up information. Institutional Review Board approval was obtained by the local ethics committee and informed consent was waived.

Biochemical investigation

Blood sampling for biochemistry including thyroid hormone and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) was performed as soon as the patients arrived at the ED. All patients had baseline levels of thyroid hormone including total T3, fT4, and TSH determined using an Elecsys electrochemiluminescent immunoassay (Roche Diagnostics Ltd., Mannheim, Germany). The reference ranges for our laboratory were total T3 (80 to 200 ng/dL), fT4 (0.93 to 1.70 ng/dL), and TSH (0.27 to 4.2 mU/L). BNP was measured by Elecsys electrochemiluminescent immunoassay (Roche Diagnostics Ltd., Basel, Switzerland). Other biochemical measurements including creatinine, cardiac specific enzyme (creatine kinase-MB, troponin I), and lipid profile were also evaluated. Glomerular filtration rate (mL/min/1.73 m² ) was calculated by the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease formula.

Coronary angiography

All eligible patients underwent coronary angiography (CAG) and PCI as coronary reperfusion therapy. CAG was performed by standard technique and significant coronary artery disease was diagnosed visually if luminal diameter narrowing ≥ 50% was present in a major epicardial coronary artery. Left main trunk disease was counted as two-vessel disease and the presence of more than two significant coronary artery diseases was considered multivessel disease.

Echocardiography

Echocardiographic assessment was conducted within 24 hours of admission. We measured echocardiographic parameters according to current guidelines of the American Society of Echocardiography. The left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was measured using modified Simpson’s method. As the parameter of left ventricular diastolic function, a ratio of mitral inflow E velocity of mitral annular tissue E’ velocity (E/E’) were calculated. The mean value of septal and lateral E’ was used for AMI patients having regional wall motion abnormalities. The right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) was assumed using the peak velocity of tricuspid regurgitation and inferior vena cava.

Clinical outcomes

Follow-up clinical data of 765 PCI-treated AMI patients were obtained from the following sources: reviewing the patients’ hospital medical records, periodically examining the patients on outpatient clinics, and interviewing the patients via telephone. We analyzed the prevalence of 1-year MACCEs, defined as re-hospitalization for HF, nonfatal myocardial infarction or severe angina for coronary revascularization, ischemic cerebrovascular accident, and cardiac death within 12 months. In present study, the definition of cardiac death required the documentation of significant arrhythmia or cardiac arrest, death attributable to congestive HF or myocardial infarction in the absence of any other precipitating factors.

Statistical analysis

Results for continuous variables are given as the mean ± standard deviation, whereas results for categorical variables are presented as frequencies and percentages. Comparisons between continuous variables were made using Student t test. Comparisons between categorical variables were evaluated using Fisher exact test or Pearson chi-square test, as appropriate. We generated receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves to define the optimal cut-offs of total T3 and T3/fT4 ratio for predicting HF, and the area under curve (AUC) and its associated 95% confidence interval (CI) were assessed using Medcalc version 13.3.3.0 statistical software (Medcalc, Ostend, Belgium). AUC comparison between categorical variables, high BNP and low T3/fT4, was performed using Medcalc statistical software. Survival analysis for clinical outcome was performed by Kaplan-Meier curve. Variables with p < 0.1 were then entered into the multivariate logistic regression analysis providing odds ratio and 95% CI. A p < 0.05 was considered to indicate a significant difference. All statistical analyses were performed using the SPSS version 21.0 (IBM Co., Armonk, NY, USA).

RESULTS

Baseline characteristics and thyroid hormone levels

A total of 765 PCI-treated AMI patients (65.4 ± 12.6 years old, 215 women) were included (Fig. 1). The 143 patients (18.7%) experienced MACCEs for 1-year. The prevalence of 1-year HF requiring re-hospitalization was 3.9% (30 patients) and that of in-hospital and 1-year death caused by cardiac disease was 6.8% (52 patients). In this study, in-hospital cardiac mortality comprised the majority (47 patients, 90.3%) of cardiac death after AMI and pump failure was the main reasons for in-hospital cardiac death. Five patients experienced cardiac death after discharge, three patients were revisit emergency room because of sudden cardiac death, one patient died from late stent thrombosis, and one patient expired due to progressive hypoxemia from intractable HF. We dichotomized into two groups, the HF or non-HF group, and compared the characteristics (Table 1). Compared to those in the non-HF group, the patients in the HF group were older (72.1 ± 12.4 years vs. 65.1 ± 12.6 years, p = 0.030) and had predominance of females (53.3% vs. 27.1%, p = 0.020). The initial-presented Killip classes and BNP levels, as well-known markers of HF of AMI, were significantly different in the two groups. The angiographic results, whether multivessel or infarct related artery disease, were not different in the two groups. In echocardiographic parameters, the baseline LVEF of the HF group were lower than those of the non-HF group (41.9% ± 10.0% vs. 53.5% ± 8.4%, p < 0.001) and the levels of mean E/E’ and assumed RVSP were higher in the HF group than in the non-HF group (Table 1). The patients in the HF group had lower total T3 levels and higher fT4 levels (84.32 ± 21.04 ng/dL vs. 101.20 ± 20.30 ng/dL, p < 0.001; 1.43 ± 0.28 ng/dL vs. 1.28 ± 0.22 ng/dL, p = 0.001, respectively) than those in the non-HF group (Table 1). Similarly, with 1-year HF, the total T3 levels were significantly lower in the patients who had experienced ischemic cerebrovascular accident, cardiac death, and all MACCEs (Fig. 2). The total T3 levels showed a tendency to be lower in patients with 1-year revascularization compared to in patients without. Contrary to total T3, the fT4 levels were only correlated with HF among MACCEs (data not shown).

Figure 1.

Study population. AMI, acute myocardial infarction; PCI, percutaneous coronary intervention; MACCEs, major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events.

Table 1.

Baseline characteristics of patients

Variable	HF group (n = 30)	Non-HF group (n = 735)	p value
Clinical characteristic
Age, yr	72.1 ± 12.4	65.1 ± 12.6	0.030
Female sex	16 (53.3)	199 (27.1)	0.020
Body mass index, kg/m2	22.9 ± 3.8	23.9 ± 3.3	0.088
Risk factors
Hypertension	19 (63.3)	342 (46.5)	0.071
Diabetes mellitus	12 (40.0)	205 (27.9)	0.150
Hypercholesterolemia	5 (16.7)	182 (24.8)	0.307
Current smoking	7 (23.3)	321 (43.7)	0.027
Past medical history
Ischemic heart disease	6 (20)	104 (14.1)	0.371
Heart failure	1 (3.3)	4 (0.5)	0.063
Revascularization	4 (13.3)	63 (8.6)	0.366
Ischemic stroke	3 (10.0)	32 (4.4)	0.147
Chronic kidney disease	4 (13.3)	16 (2.2)	< 0.001
SBP, mmHg	120.9 ± 28.9	131.8 ± 34.1	0.085
DBP, mmHg	69.1 ± 24.9	76.6 ± 22.2	0.068
Heart rate, beats/min	83.4 ± 24.1	73.4 ± 20.3	0.009
Killip class			0.007
Class I	18 (60)	624 (84.9)
Class II	5 (16.7)	22 (3.0)
Class III	2 (6.7)	31 (4.2)
Class IV	5 (16.7)	58 (7.9)
ST elevation MI	17 (56.7)	322 (43.8)	0.959
Coronary angiography findings
Infarct related artery			0.587
Left main	3 (10)	25 (3.4)
Left anterior descending	14 (46.7)	295 (40.1)
Left circumflex	8 (26.7)	174 (23.7)
Right coronary artery	5 (16.7)	241 (32.8)
Multivessel disease	15 (50)	394 (53.6)	0.698
Laboratory findings
BNP, pg/mL	1,031.8 ± 1,211.1	200.4 ± 431.8	< 0.001
CK-MB, peak, ng/mL	170.34 ± 118.26	132.71 ± 113.28	0.080
Troponin I, peak, ng/mL	33.48 ± 30.62	27.84 ± 28.67	0.300
Total cholesterol, mg/dL	183.2 ± 42.1	190.4 ± 46.4	0.402
HDL-C, mg/dL	51.5 ± 15.5	44.80 ± 13.1	0.007
LDL-C, mg/dL	113.5 ± 37.0	125.9 ± 41.7	0.108
Triiodothyronine, ng/dL	84.32 ± 21.04	101.20 ± 20.30	< 0.001
TSH, mIU/L	2.22 ± 1.50	1.78 ± 1.19	0.051
Free thyroxine, ng/dL	1.43 ± 0.28	1.28 ± 0.22	0.001
GFR, mL/min/1.73 m2	44.8 ± 23.9	73.9 ± 30.9	< 0.001
Echocardiography findings
LVEF, %	41.9 ± 10.0	53.5 ± 8.4	< 0.001
Mean E/E’	13.4 ± 5.0	10.4 ± 4.3	< 0.001
RVSP, mmHg	36.6 ± 9.4	28.8 ± 8.5	< 0.001

Values are presented as mean ± SD or number (%).

HF, heart failure; SBP, systolic blood pressure; DBP, diastolic blood pressure; MI, myocardial infarction; BNP, brain natriuretic peptide; CK-MB, creatine kinase MB; HDL-C, high density lipoprotein cholesterol; LDL-C, low density lipoprotein cholesterol; TSH, thyroid stimulating hormone; GFR, glomerular filtration rate; LVEF, left ventricular ejection fraction; E/E’, mitral inflow E velocity of mitral annular tissue E’ velocity; RVSP, right ventricular systolic pressure.

Figure 2.

Comparison of total triiodothyronine (T3) levels according to major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs). (A) Heart failure. (B) Revascularization. (C) Cerebrovascular accident. (D) Cardiac death. (E) All MACCEs.

Predictive values of thyroid hormone levels

The ROC curve analysis showed that the cut-off values of total T3 for predicting the 1-year HF was ≤ 85 ng/dL (AUC, 0.734; 95% CI, 0.701 to 0.765; p < 0.001). The sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value, and positive predictive value were 67%, 78%, 98%, and 11%, respectively. In order to reflect the fT4 change, we assessed the T3/fT4 as one of prognostic parameters. The cut-off value of T3/fT4 for predicting the 1-year HF was calculated as ≤ 60 (AUC, 0.774; 95% CI, 0.743 to 0.803; p < 0.001) (Fig. 3). The predictive values of HF were slightly augmented by using a composite marker, T3/fT4, compared to a single marker, total T3 level (sensitivity 60%, specificity 87%, negative predictive value 98%, positive predictive value 16%). In patients with T3/fT4 ≤ 60, the incidence of 1-year HF was higher (15.5% vs. 1.8%, p < 0.001) (Fig. 4). There were trend of higher 1-year cardiac mortality in patients with T3/fT4 ≤ 60 (10.3% vs. 5.7%, p = 0.060). We evaluated whether the T3/fT4 was an independent parameter for prediction of 1-year HF requiring re-hospitalization using multivariate logistic regression analysis. Among statistically significant parameters (p < 0.010) on univariate analysis, higher BNP, lower LVEF, and lower T3/fT4 were independent predictors (Table 2). The Killip class and mean E/E’ were not significant in multivariate analysis. The total T3 level and the T3/fT4 levels were also a significant predictor for all MACCEs additional to BNP level. Multivariate analysis for all MACCEs showed similar results with 1-year HF (Table 3). However, for all MACCEs, AUC of T3 was larger than that of T3/fT4 (AUC, 0.683; 95% CI, 0.634 to 0.731 for T3) (AUC, 0.647; 95% CI, 0.595 to 0.699 for T3/fT4). T3/fT4 ≤ 60 was showed the additive value to BNP (> 123 pg/mL) in ROC curve analysis (AUC, 0.818; p < 0.001 for BNP) (AUC, 0.865; p = 0.015 for T3/fT4 combined with BNP) (Fig. 5). As a result, low T3/fT4 and high BNP had most powerful predictive value for 1-year HF in patients with AMI.

Figure 3.

Cut-off values of thyroid hormone level to predict 1-year heart failure requiring re-hospitalization. (A) Total triiodothyronine (T3) level. (B) Ratio of total T3 to free thyroxine (fT4). AUC, area under curve; CI, confidence interval.

Figure 4.

Comparison of 1-year event free rate according to thyroid hormone level. (A) Heart failure. (B) Cardiac death. T3, triiodothyronine; fT4, free thyroxine.

Table 2.

Univariate and multivariate analysis to predict the 1-year heart failure requiring re-hospitalization

Variable	Univariate analysis		Multivariate analysis
	Odds ratio (95% CI)	p value	Odds ratio (95% CI)	p value
Age, /yr	1.049 (1.015–1.083)	0.003	0.999 (0.953–1.047)	0.963
Female sex	3.076 (1.474–6.410)	0.002	1.567 (0.568–4.326)	0.386
SBP	0.992 (0.983–1.001)	0.085	-	-
Heart rate	1.024 (1.006–1.042)	0.008	-	-
Killip class	1.483 (1.097–2.005)	0.007	0.894 (0.551–1.452)	0.651
Log10 BNP	10.811 (5.246–22.277)	< 0.001	3.004 (1.191–7.576)	0.020
Total T3	0.956 (0.936–0.976)	< 0.001	-	-
f T4	11.441 (2.827–46.302)	0.001	-	-
Total T3/f T4	1.046 (1.024–1.068)	< 0.001	0.967 (0.941–0.993)	0.015
LVEF	1.124 (1.083–1.168)	< 0.001	0.891 (0.840–0.944)	< 0.001
Mean E/E’	1.098 (1.038–1.161)	0.001	0.963 (0.882–1.052)	0.406
GFR	1.039 (1.023–1.054)	< 0.001	0.989 (0.968–1.011)	0.989

CI, confidential interval; SBP, systolic blood pressure; BNP, brain natriuretic peptide; T3, triiodothyronine; fT4, free thyroxine; LVEF, left ventricular ejection fraction; E/E’, mitral inflow E velocity of mitral annular tissue E’ velocity; GFR, glomerular filtration rate.

Table 3.

Univariate and multivariate analysis to predict the all major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events

Variable	Univariate analysis		Multivariate analysis
	Odds ratio (95% CI)	p value	Odds ratio (95% CI)	p value
Age, /yr	1.041 (1.025–1.058)	< 0.001	0.987 (0.963–1.012)	0.314
Female sex	2.021 (1.383–2.954)	< 0.001	1.450 (0.853–2.464)	0.170
Hypertension	2.121 (1.460–3.081)	< 0.001	1.744 (1.075–2.830)	0.024
SBP	0.982 (0.976–0.987)	< 0.001	0.995 (0.986–1.003)	0.204
Heart rate	0.971 (0.960–0.983)	< 0.001	-	-
Killip class	2.028 (1.710–2.404)	< 0.001	1.112 (0.833–1.485)	0.470
Log10 BNP	3.300 (2.361–4.613)	< 0.001	1.759 (1.091–2.835)	0.020
Total T3	0.969 (0.959–0.978)	< 0.001	-	-
f T4	1.705 (0.781–3.721)	0.180	-	-
Total T3/f T4	0.973 (0.964–0.983)	< 0.001	0.982 (0.968–0.995)	0.008
LVEF	0.940 (0.920–0.961)	< 0.001	0.975 (0.947–1.003)	0.074
Mean E/E’	1.077 (1.035–1.120)	0.001	0.994 (0.943–1.048)	0.821
GFR	0.979 (0.969–0.983)	< 0.001	0.990 (0.979–1.001)	0.073

CI, confidential interval; SBP, systolic blood pressure; BNP, brain natriuretic peptide; T3, triiodothyronine; fT4, free thyroxine; LVEF, left ventricular ejection fraction; E/E’, mitral inflow E velocity/mitral annular E’ velocity; GFR, glomerular filtration rate.

Figure 5.

Comparison of area under curve (AUC) to predict the 1-year heart failure requiring re-hospitalization. BNP, brain natriuretic peptide; T3, triiodothyronine; fT4, free thyroxine; CI, confidence interval. ^aComparison with BNP level (reference value), ^bComparison with thyroid hormone level.

DISCUSSION

In this study, we found the following: (1) the decrease in total T3 levels began at an early phase after AMI; (2) total T3 levels immediately after arrival at the ED could be practically useful predictors of 1-year MACCEs, especially HF requiring re-hospitalization in AMI patients with treated PCI; and (3) a T3/fT4 was a more helpful marker than total T3 for prediction of 1-year HF.

NTIS is frequently found in various acute and chronic serious systemic conditions without evidence of pre-existing disease of the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis. The low T3 and elevated reverse T3 are the most prominent alterations of early phase of acute NTIS. The pathophysiological mechanism of NTIS involves two closely related processes, inflammation, and oxidative stress. Firstly, severe illness accompanying inflammation leads to increased cytokines such as interleukin 6, which suppresses the HPT axis. In addition, the inflammatory cytokines also change deiodinases expression and their activities resulting in decreased T3 and elevated reverse T3 concentrations at the plasma and cellular levels [4,9].

Although the low T3 by both decreased D1 and D2 activities and induced D3 activation is beneficial for reduction of energy turnover and oxygen consumption, tissue hypothyroidism could cause further oxidative stress, leading to a vicious cycle [4]. In cardiovascular system, thyroid hormone decreases vascular resistance, activates the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, and increases blood volume, consequently increasing cardiac contractility and cardiac output [1,2]. The NTIS, low T3 state, is associated with worsened systolic and diastolic heart function [10-13]. Additionally, thyroid hormones have a role of angiogenesis in myocardium; low T3 state deteriorates pathologic remodeling process and HF progression [14]. Therefore, tissue hypothyroidism via vicious cycle can result in poor cardiovascular outcomes including mortality.

Several studies have reported about NTIS in subjects with AMI [3,6,7,10]. In AMI condition, decrease of free T3 and increase of reverse T3 have been documented [15,16]. In animal models, Ojamaa et al. [17] showed that low T3 levels fell within 1 week of AMI and remained > 40% lower than those in controls 4 weeks after AMI. Olivares et al. [18] also reported that reduced T3 levels were low until 8 weeks post-AMI. In patients with AMI, T3 changes occur rapidly within 12 hours from the onset of symptoms, reaching a nadir by 72 hours. This early T3 change was related to the extent of myocardial damage using wall motion score index and cardiac specific enzyme, creatinine kinase and troponin-I [10,19]. There were some reports that thyroid hormone is predictable of poor outcomes using free T3 levels and reverse T3 levels. However, there were only a few reports using total T3 levels [3,10]. The report by Lymvaios et al. [10] showed that total T3 levels initially obtained were decreased and the total T3 levels at 48 hours were correlated with recovery of LVEF. Comparing the two groups by increased LVEF (≥ 5%) or not-increased LVEF (< 5%), the initial total T3 levels were low and significantly different between the two groups at 24 hours. In the current study, an initial lower total T3 level was significantly correlated with poorer outcomes, and was consistent with findings of previous studies. Furthermore, our study enrolled AMI patients who had undergone PCI. In current practice, almost all AMI patients are treated with PCI at arrival for chest pain. Therefore, our results may be more compatible to the real-world scenario, and could exclude the effects of coronary reperfusion. Therefore, we suggest that total T3 levels rapidly decline from very early phase in AMI patients with serious stress state. Furthermore, the decreased T3 levels continue for several weeks and the chronic NTIS influences poor outcomes including mortality and HF aggravation.

This study revealed that fT4 levels were elevated after AMI. Almost previous observations on predictive value of thyroid hormones showed that the changes of fT4 were very small and insignificant compared to T3 levels. In contrast, other reports, such as that of Friberg et al. [3], showed that the elevated fT4 (> 15 pmol/L) group has higher mortality, although this was not statistically significant in the multivariate model. The thyroid hormones obtained at the time of admission were similar our study [3]. As shown those finding, the fT4 elevation can observe very transiently in early phase of acute illness without significant change of T4-binding globulin levels. This phenomenon might be explained by the following mechanisms: decreased conversion of T4 to T3 due to a decreased D1 activity [20], reduced serum T4 binding affinity due to the presence of a dissociable competitive T4 binding inhibitor in the serum [21], and reduced hepatic clearance of T4 [22,23]. We can hypothesize that these changes in patients with AMI would be prominent in more serious condition. Here, we thought that changes of fT4 can strengthen the prognostic value of total T3 levels and showed that T3/fT4 was a more helpful marker to predict the HF requiring re-hospitalization than a single total T3 levels. Furthermore, lower T3/fT4 levels had high specificity to predict the 1-year HF after AMI. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study on T3/fT4 levels as a predictable marker. We believe that easily measurable total T3, fT4, and their ratio can be used to predict the individualized prognosis of patients with AMI in clinical practice, especially in ED.

There are some limitations in the present study. First, this is retrospective study. We could not evaluate the chronicity of cardiovascular disease, especially chronic HF, and all comorbidities. The T3 levels could reflect the various diseases. For removal of this selection bias, we excluded patients with extremely abnormal range of thyroid hormone levels, during the process of collecting the past medical history and evaluating their effects. However, the multiple compound biases can still be present in this study. Second, this study does not have the profiles of reverse T3, free T3, and thyroid hormone antibodies and we did not routinely check serial total T3 levels at follow-up. Third, we did not evaluate the inflammatory markers and cytokines such as interleukin 6. Because C-reactive protein levels can be obtained from only some of the patients, a statistical analysis was impossible. Therefore, we cannot conclude the mechanism of acute alterations of T3 and fT4 in patients with AMI. These problems require further investigation with large-scaled, prospective studies that incorporate serial measurements of thyroid function tests.

KEY MESSAGE

1. Lower levels of total triiodothyronine (T3) were well correlated with 1-year major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events in percutaneous coronary intervention-treated acute myocardial infarction patients, especially heart failure (HF) requiring re-hospitalization.

2. The T3/free thyroxine levels can be an additional marker to predict HF.