Although prevalence of hypertension is high in the population, underlying
pathology can be determined only in the 10% of the cases and called secondary
hypertension. Endocrine disorders are the second most common cause of secondary
hypertension after renal diseases. Thyroid diseases are relatively rare causes of
secondary hypertension; however, thyroid dysfunction is common in the population.
Thyroid hormones affect all physiological systems, including cardiovascular system
and blood pressure regulation. Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can cause
hypertension using different mechanisms of action. Hyperthyroidism generally results
in increased cardiac output and systolic hypertension, whereas hypothyroidism is
associated with increased peripheral vascular resistance, causing diastolic hypertension.
As hypertension due to an underlying thyroid disease is reversible if early and adequate
therapy is given, thyroid disease related hypertension has to be excluded in
hypertensive patients.
This chapter summarizes the present knowledge on the pathogenesis of thyroid disease
related hypertension, as well as common thyroid diseases related with hypertension,
their diagnosis and treatment alternatives.
Keywords: Blood pressure, Cardiac output, Diastolic hypertension, Graves’ disease,
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, Hypertension, Hyperthyroidism, Hypothyroidism,
Systolic hypertension, Thyroid, Thyrotoxicosis, Thyroid cancer, T3, T4, TSH,
TRH, TPO, MIT, DIT, D2 enzyme.
