Skip to main content

ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Endocrinol., 31 May 2023
Sec. Thyroid Endocrinology
This article is part of the Research Topic Subclinical Thyroid Disease: Present Knowledge and Future Direction: Volume II View all 9 articles

Low T3 syndrome is associated with 30-day mortality in adult patients with fulminant myocarditis

  • Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China

Background: Fulminant myocarditis (FM) is a critical disease with high early mortality. Low triiodothyronine syndrome (LT3S) was a strong predictor of poor prognosis of critical diseases. This study investigated whether LT3S was associated with 30-day mortality in FM patients.

Methods: Ninety-six FM patients were divided into LT3S (n=39, 40%) and normal free triiodothyronine (FT3) (n=57, 60%) groups based on serum FT3 level. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify independent predictors of 30-day mortality. Kaplan–Meier curve was used to compare 30-day mortality between two groups. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and decision curve analysis (DCA) were used to assess the value of FT3 level for 30-day mortality prediction.

Results: Compared to normal FT3 group, LT3S group had higher incidence of ventricular arrhythmias, worse hemodynamics, worse cardiac function, more severe kidney impairment, and higher 30-day mortality (48.7% vs. 12.3%, P<0.001). In univariable analysis, LT3S (odds ratio [OR]:6.786, 95% confidence interval [CI]:2.472-18.629, P<0.001) and serum FT3 (OR:0.272, 95%CI:0.139-0.532, P<0.001) were significant strong predictors of 30-day mortality. After adjustment for confounders in multivariable analysis, LT3S (OR:3.409, 95%CI:1.019-11.413, P=0.047) and serum FT3 (OR:0.408, 95%CI:0.199-0.837, P=0.014) remained independent 30-day mortality predictors. The area under the ROC curve of FT3 level was 0.774 (cut-off: 3.58, sensitivity: 88.46%, specificity: 62.86%). In DCA, FT3 level showed good clinical-application value for 30-day mortality prediction.

Conclusion: In FM patients, LT3S could independently predict 30-day mortality. FT3 level was a strong 30-day mortality predictor and a potentially useful risk-stratification biomarker.

1 Introduction

Acute myocarditis is defined as impaired cardiac function as a result of myocardial inflammatory injuries of various causes, and characterized by reduced systolic function and cardiac arrhythmias (13). Fulminant myocarditis (FM) is the most serious and specific type of acute myocarditis, which often has a rapid progression and manifests with hemodynamic collapse, followed by refractory cardiogenic shock, life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias or electrical storms, and other complications (4, 5). While FM had a high early mortality, this condition had a good long-term prognosis (69). Therefore, it is very important to find biomarkers for accurate prediction of FM prognosis so that intervention measures could be provided as early as possible.

Low triiodothyronine (T3) syndrome (LT3S), also known as euthyroid sick syndrome, is characterized by reduced serum T3 levels and normal thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) concentrations (1012). LT3S was considered an adaptative response to preserve energy in acute and chronic severe diseases (13). Accumulating evidence showed that LT3S was strongly associated with poor prognosis in critical illnesses (14, 15). In the past few years, the interplay between LT3S and cardiovascular disease has attracted great attention (1618). However, whether LT3S was associated with poor prognosis of FM patients was uncertain. Therefore, this study investigated whether LT3S was associated with 30-day mortality of FM patients.

2 Materials and methods

2.1 Study design and participants

In this single-center, retrospective study, 123 FM patients (age≥18 years) were enrolled in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University (Zhengzhou, China) from May 2015 to October 2022. According to the recommendations in the Chinese Expert Consensus (19), FM is defined as acute myocarditis with hemodynamic instability requiring high-dose vasopressors (≥5 µg/[kg·min] of dopamine, dobutamine or other inotropic equivalents) or mechanical circulatory support (MCS), despite maximal medical treatment. Eleven patients were excluded because of previous or new diagnoses of thyroid diseases. Additionally, due to the lack of detailed baseline data and loss to follow-up, 12 and 4 patients were excluded, respectively. The study endpoint was 30-day mortality, obtained by a trained doctor through reviewing patient’s hospital record and interviewing the patients by phone. The flow chart of the enrollment process of 96 FM patients was showed in Figure 1.

FIGURE 1
www.frontiersin.org

Figure 1 The flow chart of the enrollment of 96 patients with FM.

The study was conducted in compliance with the requirement for medical research ethics in the Declaration of Helsinki (2013 revision). Our study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University (ID: 2022-KY-1446). In addition, all the candidates signed the informed consent before we conducted the study.

2.2 Data collection

We collected patients’ clinical characteristics, including their demographic data (gender and age), comorbidities (hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and dyslipidemia), symptoms (fever, palpitations, chest pain, dyspnea, and syncope), electrocardiogram findings at admission (ST-T change, complete atrioventricular block, bundle branch block, supraventricular tachycardia, and ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation), vital signs at admission (systolic pressure, diastolic pressure, and heart rate), laboratory results (free T3 [FT3], free thyroxine [FT4], TSH, creatine, aspartate transaminase, alanine aminotransferase, albumin, C-reactive protein [CRP], peak N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide [NT-proBNP], and peak Troponin I [TnI]), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), medications (anti-viral therapy, glucocorticoid therapy, and intravenous immunoglobulin), and life support treatment (MCS, including intra-aortic balloons pump and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, temporary pacing, and continuous renal replacement therapy [CRRT]) from electronic medical information recording system.

2.3 Thyroid function test

Serum FT3, FT4, and TSH levels were measured on the second day of admission by using chemoluminescence immunoassay (UniCel Dxl 800 Access, Beckman Coulter, Brea, CA, USA) in the Department of Nuclear Medicine of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University. The normal reference values for thyroid function tests are as follows: FT3: 3.28-6.47 pmol/L, FT4: 7.9-18.4 pmol/L, and TSH: 0.56-5.91 µIU/mL. LT3S was defined as FT3<3.28 pmol/L with normal TSH level, with or without FT4<7.9 pmol/L.

2.4 Statistical analysis

All statistical analyses were carried out using SPSS statistics software (version 24.0) and R software (version 4.2.2). First, we used Kolmogorov–Smirnov test to verify the normality of the distribution of continuous variables. Variables with normal distributions were presented as mean ± standard deviation (SD) and compared between two groups by Student’s t test, while non-normally distributed variables were expressed as medians with interquartile ranges (IQR) and compared between two groups by Mann–Whitney U test. Categorical variables were presented as counts (percentages) and compared by the χ2 or Fisher’s exact test. Second, univariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify variables associated with 30-day mortality. All significant variables in the univariable analysis were included in the multivariable analysis. We used Kaplan–Meier curve to describe and compare 30-day mortality between the groups. Third, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was performed and the area under the ROC curve (AUC) was calculated to assess the predictive ability of FT3 level for 30-day mortality. Decision curve analysis (DCA) was used to assess the clinical value of FT3. All tests were 2-sided, and P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.

3 Results

3.1 Clinical characteristics

Ninety-six participants (male proportion: 42.7%) were included in this study, with a mean age of 42 ± 14 years. Clinical characteristics of FM patients were shown in Table 1. Patients were divided into LT3S (n=39, 40%) and normal FT3 (n=57, 60%) groups. No remarkable difference was observed in demographics and comorbidities between two groups. A higher proportion of patients with syncope and ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation was observed in LT3S group than in normal FT3 group. Compared to normal FT3 group, LT3S patients had lower systolic blood pressure and faster heart rate. Additionally, serum FT3, FT4, TSH levels and LVEF were significantly lower in LT3S group than in normal FT3 group. Serum creatine, CRP, peak NT-proBNP, and peak TnI levels were higher in LT3S group than in normal FT3 group. For the treatment of FM, more patients in LT3S group accepted MCS, ventilator, and CRRT as compared to those in normal FT3 group.

TABLE 1
www.frontiersin.org

Table 1 Clinical characteristics of the patients with FM.

3.2 Association between LT3S and 30-day mortality

Univariable and multivariable logistic analyses were performed, with results shown in Table 2. In univariable analysis, LT3S (odds ratio [OR]:6.786, 95% confidence interval [CI]:2.472-18.629, P<0.001) and serum FT3 (OR:0.272, 95%CI:0.139-0.532, P<0.001) were independent predictors of 30-day mortality. LT3S (OR:3.409, 95%CI:1.019-11.413, P=0.047) was a strong predictor for 30-day mortality in Model 1. Additionally, serum FT3 (OR:0.408, 95%CI:0.199-0.837, P=0.014) was correlated with 30-day mortality after adjusting for confounding variables in Model 2.

TABLE 2
www.frontiersin.org

Table 2 Logistic regression for 30-day mortality of FM.

The 30-day survival curve of FM patients was displayed in Figure 2. LT3S patients had a higher 30-day mortality than patients in normal FT3 group (48.7% vs. 12.3%, log-rank P<0.001).

FIGURE 2
www.frontiersin.org

Figure 2 Kaplan–Meier curve for 30-day mortality in LT3S group versus in normal FT3 group.

3.3 Predictive value of FT3 level for30-day mortality

The comparisons of AUCs and FT3 cut-off values for 30-day mortality were presented in Table 3. The overall AUC and FT3 cut-off value for 30-day mortality were 0.774 and 3.58, respectively. The overall sensitivity and specificity of FT3 level for 30-day mortality prediction were 88.46% and 62.86%, respectively. Additionally, in subgroup analysis, the predictive power of FT3 level for 30-day mortality was not affected by gender (male vs. female: 0.767 vs. 0.809), age (≥50 years vs. <50 years: 0.724 vs. 0.786), LVEF (≥40% vs. <40%: 0.765 vs. 0.778), CRRT (yes vs. no: 0.854 vs. 0.709), and MCS (yes vs. no: 0.756 vs. 0.779). Details of the cut-off values, sensitivity, and specificity of different subgroups were also presented in Table 3.

TABLE 3
www.frontiersin.org

Table 3 Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the value of FT3 for predicting 30-day mortality.

Furthermore, the DCA curves (Figure 3) suggested that if the threshold probability is 0.15-0.80, using the FT3 level to predict 30-day mortality in our study could add more benefit, which indicates FT3 level had good clinical-application value for predicting 30-day mortality.

FIGURE 3
www.frontiersin.org

Figure 3 Decision curve analysis (DCA) of FT3 levels in predicting 30-day mortality. The y-axis was used to test the net benefit. The gray line indicated that all patients died within 30 days, while the black line indicated that all patients survived for over 30 days. The red line displayed the benefit of FT3 level for 30-day mortality.

4 Discussion

In this study, by collecting and analyzing clinical characteristics of 96 FM patients, we found that patients with LT3S had a higher proportion of ventricular arrhythmias, worse hemodynamics, worse cardiac systolic function, more severe kidney impairment. In multivariate analysis, after adjusting for potential confounders, we identified LT3S and FT3 level as significant independent predictors of 30-day mortality, which provided more risk-stratification information for FM patients. Additionally, FT3 level moderately predicted 30-day mortality regardless of gender, age, LVEF level, and MCS treatment.

In cardiovascular disease, LT3S had been extensively studied. Nevertheless, no studies have reported the incidence of LT3S in FM patients until now. According to our study, LT3S occurred in 40% of FM patients. This LT3S prevalence in FM is higher than those reported for other cardiovascular diseases (16, 20, 21), and might be explained by the FM treatment, which often included drugs, such as dopamine, glucocorticoids, amiodarone, and others, that could affect thyroid function measurement. Additionally, renal dysfunction and severe inflammatory process, often accompanied with FM, also induced LT3S. Meanwhile, the 30-day mortality in LT3S group was 48.7%, which was significantly higher than that of normal FT3 group. A systematic review and meta-analysis of 41 studies showed that LT3S was an independent predictor for all-cause mortality, cardiac mortality, and MACE in heart diseases (22). Su et al. revealed that the patients with LT3S had higher in-hospital cardiovascular mortality in patients with acute myocardial infarction (23). Recently, in the study of Zhao et al., LT3S could predict poor prognosis in adult patients with acute myocarditis (24). Collectively, accumulating evidence showed that LT3S was associated with poor prognosis in cardiovascular disease.

However, the underlying mechanisms of the association between LT3S and FM remain uncertain. Several observations could explain the relationship between LT3S and FM. First, consistent with previous report, our LT3S patients had worse cardiac function and hemodynamics (25). Thyroid hormones played a pivotal role in the cardiovascular system, which regulated cardiovascular hemodynamics, cardiac filling, and systolic contractility (26). Particularly, T3 can decrease peripheral vascular resistance and increase heart rate as well as left ventricular myocardial contractility (27, 28). Therefore, low T3 levels will reduce cardiac function and induce structural changes of the myocardium. Second, we noted that LT3S patients had more severe myocardial injury, which might further aggravate FM progression. To date, no studies provided an explanation for the association between myocardial injury and LT3S in FM patients. Nevertheless, some studies showed that thyroid hormones had a significant cardioprotective effect in patients with acute myocardial infarction, which could reduce myocardial injury and reverse left ventricular remodeling by activating cytoprotection, stimulating cell growth, and triggering neovascularization and metabolic adaptation (29, 30). Alexandre et al. showed various protective functions of thyroid hormones in the ischemia/reperfusion rat model (31). As such, the mechanism of how LT3S affects the myocardial injury requires further investigation. Third, there is a crosstalk between LT3S and inflammatory processes. Thyroid hormones can modulate the inflammatory and immune responses by genomic and non-genomic mechanisms (32). For example, thyroid hormones can regulate pro-inflammatory macrophage responses by enhancing phagocytic activity and promoting nitric oxide production in macrophage cell lines (33). Besides, Ma et al. reported that subclinical hypothyroidism was positively correlated with reactive oxygen species generation via nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase activation, suggesting an inhibitory thyroid hormone effect on neutrophil function (34). Therefore, it is plausible that impaired thyroid hormone function results in the pathogenesis of inflammation processes. Moreover, various inflammatory cytokines play a critical role in the pathogenesis of LT3S (35, 36). For instance, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6) could interfere with the expression of many genes related to thyroid hormone metabolism and inhibit T3 production (37). Fourth, we found a higher incidence of ventricular arrhythmias in LT3S patients than in patients with normal FT3 level. FM patients often presented with various arrhythmias due to myocardial edema and electrocardiographic instability (38). LT3S can aggravate the left ventricular systolic dysfunction, which precipitates a higher incidence of ventricular arrhythmias. Collectively, these pathophysiological changes may eventually contribute to the poor prognosis of FM patients.

FM patients have a very poor short-term prognosis (6). A multi-center study suggested the early application of a life support-based comprehensive treatment regimen, including MCS, respiratory support, immune modulation with sufficient doses of glucocorticoids and immunoglobulins, and antiviral therapy significantly, could significantly reduce in-hospital mortality in patients with FM (19). Therefore, early risk stratification is of great clinical importance and can guide clinical treatment for FM patients. Previous studies indicated that many risk factors, such as renal dysfunction, impaired cardiac function, prolonged QRS duration and QTc interval, were associated with poor in hospital and long-term prognosis in patients with fulminant myocarditis (3941). In our study, LT3S was an independent predictor for poor prognosis of FM patients. Consequently, FT3 should be considered to be a biomarker for risk stratification of FM patients. However, whether LT3S patients should receive treatment remains controversial. Kyle et al. reported that long-term T3 replacement therapy could improve ejection fraction and contractile performance in a rat model of post-MI (42). Some clinical studies further confirmed the role of thyroid hormone replacement therapy in enhancing cardiac function in LT3S patients (43, 44). While most studies reported encouraging findings, data about effects of thyroid hormone replacement therapy on long-term prognosis has not been available yet. Additionally, the type of thyroid hormones supplementation, administration route, treatment dosage and duration varied among different studies. Therefore, it is very difficult to compare results among these studies. Moreover, the association between thyroid hormone replacement therapy and long-term clinical outcomes remains to be investigated in large randomized controlled trials.

This study had several limitations. First, this is a single-center retrospective study. Therefore, we were unable to conclude the causal relationship between LT3S and poor prognosis of FM. Second, the impact of LT3S on long-term prognosis of FM patients could not be assessed due to the absence of long-term follow-up. Third, FM was diagnosed mainly by clinical presentation, laboratory data, and imaging results, whereas endomyocardial biopsy was not routinely performed to confirm the diagnosis.

5 Conclusions

LT3S was an independent predictor of 30-day mortality in FM patients. Additionally, FT3 level was a strong predictor of 30-day mortality and may serve as an useful risk-stratification biomarker for FM patients.

Data availability statement

The original contributions presented in the study are included in the article/supplementary material, further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding author.

Ethics statement

The studies involving human participants were reviewed and approved by the ethics committee of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University. The patients/participants provided their written informed consent to participate in this study.

Author contributions

GM and XZ contributed to the conception and design of the study. GM, SP, YZ, MD, and LB collected the clinical information. GM wrote the first draft of the manuscript. SP and XZ reviewed and revised the manuscript. All authors contributed to the article and approved the submitted version.

Funding

This study was supported by the Science and Technology Development of Henan Province (Grant No. 212102310210).

Acknowledgments

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Peipei Zheng for her encouragement and guidance.

Conflict of interest

XZ received funding support from the Science and Technology Research in Henan Province.

The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Publisher’s note

All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

Abbreviations

AUC, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve; CI, confidence interval; CRP, C-reactive protein; CRRT, continuous renal replacement therapy; DCA, decision curve analysis; FM, fulminant myocarditis; FT3, free triiodothyronine; FT4, free thyroxine; IL-1, interleukin-1; IL-6, interleukin-6; IQR, interquartile range; LT3S, low triiodothyronine syndrome; LVEF, left ventricular ejection fraction; MACE, major adverse cardiovascular events; MCS , mechanic circulatory support; NT-proBNP, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide; OR, odds ratio; ROC, receiver operating characteristic; SD, standard deviation; T3, triiodothyronine; TNF-α, tumor necrosis factor-α; TnI, Troponin I; TSH, thyroid-stimulating hormone; VT, ventricular tachycardia; VF, ventricular fibrillation.

References

1. Caforio AL, Pankuweit S, Arbustini E, Basso C, Gimeno-Blanes J, Felix SB, et al. Current state of knowledge on aetiology, diagnosis, management, and therapy of myocarditis: a position statement of the European society of cardiology working group on myocardial and pericardial diseases. Eur Heart J (2013) 34(33):2636–48. doi: 10.1093/eurheartj/eht210

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

2. Fung G, Luo H, Qiu Y, Yang D, McManus B. Myocarditis. Circ Res (2016) 118(3):496–514. doi: 10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.115.306573

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

3. Magnani JW, Dec GW. Myocarditis: current trends in diagnosis and treatment. Circulation (2006) 113(6):876–90. doi: 10.1161/circulationaha.105.584532

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

4. Ginsberg F, Parrillo JE. Fulminant myocarditis. Crit Care Clin (2013) 29(3):465–83. doi: 10.1016/j.ccc.2013.03.004

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

5. Gupta S, Markham DW, Drazner MH, Mammen PP. Fulminant myocarditis. Nat Clin Pract Cardiovasc Med (2008) 5(11):693–706. doi: 10.1038/ncpcardio1331

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

6. Diddle JW, Almodovar MC, Rajagopal SK, Rycus PT, Thiagarajan RR. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for the support of adults with acute myocarditis. Crit Care Med (2015) 43(5):1016–25. doi: 10.1097/CCM.0000000000000920

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

7. McCarthy R, Boehmer J, Hruban R, Hutchins G, Kasper E, Hare J, et al. Long-term outcome of fulminant myocarditis as compared with acute (Nonfulminant) myocarditis. New Engl J Med (2000) 342(10):690–5. doi: 10.1056/nejm200003093421003

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

8. Rodriguez A, Alvarez-Rocha L, Sirvent JM, Zaragoza R, Nieto M, Arenzana A, et al. Recommendations of the infectious diseases work group (Gtei) of the Spanish society of intensive and critical care medicine and coronary units (Semicyuc) and the infections in critically ill patients study group (Geipc) of the Spanish society of infectious diseases and clinical microbiology (Seimc) for the diagnosis and treatment of influenza a/H1n1 in seriously ill adults admitted to the intensive care unit. Med Intensiva (2012) 36(2):103–37. doi: 10.1016/j.medin.2011.11.020

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

9. Ting M, Wang CH, Tsao CI, Huang SC, Chi NH, Chou NK, et al. Heart transplantation under mechanical circulatory support for acute fulminant myocarditis with cardiogenic shock: 10 years' experience of a single center. Transplant Proc (2016) 48(3):951–5. doi: 10.1016/j.transproceed.2015.12.109

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

10. Mclver B, Gorman CA. Euthyroid sick syndrome: an overview. Thyroid (1997) 7(1):125–32. doi: 10.1089/thy.1997.7.125

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

11. Garber JR, Cobin RH, Gharib H, Hennessey JV, Klein I, Mechanick JI, et al. Clinical practice guidelines for hypothyroidism in adults: cosponsored by the American association of clinical endocrinologists and the American thyroid association. Thyroid (2012) 22(12):1200–35. doi: 10.1089/thy.2012.0205

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

12. Docter R, Krenning EP, Jong M, Hennermann G. The sick euthyroid syndrome: changes in thyroid hormone serum parameters and hormone metabolism. Clin Endocrinol (1993) 39(5):499–518. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2265.1993.tb02401.x

CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

13. Boelen A, Kwakkel J, Platvoet-ter Schiphorst M, Baur A, Kohrle J, Wiersinga WM. Contribution of interleukin-12 to the pathogenesis of non-thyroidal illness. Horm Metab Res (2004) 36(2):101–6. doi: 10.1055/s-2004-814219

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

14. Fliers E, Bianco AC, Langouche L, Boelen A. Thyroid function in critically ill patients. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol (2015) 3(10):816–25. doi: 10.1016/s2213-8587(15)00225-9

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

15. Pontes CDN, Rocha J, Medeiros JMR, Santos B, Silva P, Medeiros JMR, et al. Low T3 syndrome as a prognostic factor in patients in the intensive care unit: an observational cohort study. Rev Bras Terapia Intensiva (2022) 34(2):262–71. doi: 10.5935/0103-507X.20220024-en

CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

16. Gao S, Ma W, Huang S, Lin X, Yu M. Impact of low triiodothyronine syndrome on long-term outcomes in patients with myocardial infarction with nonobstructive coronary arteries. Ann Med (2021) 53(1):741–9. doi: 10.1080/07853890.2021.1931428

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

17. Iervasi G, Pingitore A, Landi P, Raciti M, Ripoli A, Scarlattini M, et al. Low-T3 syndrome: a strong prognostic predictor of death in patients with heart disease. Circulation (2003) 107(5):708–13. doi: 10.1161/01.cir.0000048124.64204.3f

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

18. Jabbar A, Pingitore A, Pearce SH, Zaman A, Iervasi G, Razvi S. Thyroid hormones and cardiovascular disease. Nat Rev Cardiol (2017) 14(1):39–55. doi: 10.1038/nrcardio.2016.174

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

19. Li S, Xu S, Li C, Ran X, Cui G, He M, et al. A life support-based comprehensive treatment regimen dramatically lowers the in-hospital mortality of patients with fulminant myocarditis: a multiple center study. Sci China Life Sci (2019) 62(3):369–80. doi: 10.1007/s11427-018-9501-9

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

20. Fraczek-Jucha M, Zbierska-Rubinkiewicz K, Kabat M, Plens K, Rychlak R, Nessler J, et al. Low triiodothyronine syndrome and selenium deficiency - undervalued players in advanced heart failure? a single center pilot study. BMC Cardiovasc Disord (2019) 19(1):105. doi: 10.1186/s12872-019-1076-5

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

21. Hayashi T, Hasegawa T, Kanzaki H, Funada A, Amaki M, Takahama H, et al. Subclinical hypothyroidism is an independent predictor of adverse cardiovascular outcomes in patients with acute decompensated heart failure. ESC Heart Fail (2016) 3(3):168–76. doi: 10.1002/ehf2.12084

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

22. Wang B, Liu S, Li L, Yao Q, Song R, Shao X, et al. Non-thyroidal illness syndrome in patients with cardiovascular diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Cardiol (2017) 226:1–10. doi: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2016.10.039

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

23. Su W, Zhao XQ, Wang M, Chen H, Li HW. Low T3 syndrome improves risk prediction of in-hospital cardiovascular death in patients with acute myocardial infarction. J Cardiol (2018) 72(3):215–9. doi: 10.1016/j.jjcc.2018.02.013

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

24. Zhao Y, Wang W, Zhang K, Tang YD. Association between low T3 syndrome and poor prognosis in adult patients with acute myocarditis. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) (2021) 12:571765. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2021.571765

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

25. Jankauskiene E, Orda P, Barauskiene G, Mickuviene N, Brozaitiene J, Vaskelyte JJ, et al. Relationship between left ventricular mechanics and low free triiodothyronine levels after myocardial infarction: a prospective study. Intern Emerg Med (2016) 11(3):391–8. doi: 10.1007/s11739-015-1370-x

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

26. Klein I, Danzi S. Thyroid disease and the heart. Curr Probl Cardiol (2016) 41(2):65–92. doi: 10.1016/j.cpcardiol.2015.04.002

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

27. Nakajima Y, Yamada M. Subclinical thyroid disease. Nihon rinsho Japanese J Clin Med (2012) 70(11):1865–71.

Google Scholar

28. Klein I, Ojamaa K. Thyroid hormone and the cardiovascular system. New Engl J Med (2001) 344(7):501–9. doi: 10.1056/nejm200102153440707

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

29. Gerdes AM, Ojamaa K. Thyroid hormone and cardioprotection. Compr Physiol (2016) 6(3):1199–219. doi: 10.1002/cphy.c150012

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

30. Razvi S, Jabbar A, Pingitore A, Danzi S, Biondi B, Klein I, et al. Thyroid hormones and cardiovascular function and diseases. J Am Coll Cardiol (2018) 71(16):1781–96. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2018.02.045

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

31. de Castro AL, Fernandes RO, Ortiz VD, Campos C, Bonetto JH, Fernandes TR, et al. Thyroid hormones improve cardiac function and decrease expression of pro-apoptotic proteins in the heart of rats 14 days after infarction. Apoptosis (2016) 21(2):184–94. doi: 10.1007/s10495-015-1204-3

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

32. De Vito P, Incerpi S, Pedersen JZ, Luly P, Davis FB, Davis PJ. Thyroid hormones as modulators of immune activities at the cellular level. Thyroid (2011) 21(8):879–90. doi: 10.1089/thy.2010.0429

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

33. Chen Y, Sjölinder M, Wang X, Altenbacher G, Hagner M, Berglund P, et al. Thyroid hormone enhances nitric oxide-mediated bacterial clearance and promotes survival after meningococcal infection. PloS One (2012) 7(7):e41445. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0041445

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

34. Ma X, Wang F, Zhen X, Zhao L, Fang L, Dong Z, et al. Gp91, a novel biomarker evaluating oxidative stress, is elevated in subclinical hypothyroidism. Int J Endocrinol (2020) 2020:3161730. doi: 10.1155/2020/3161730

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

35. Ozawa M, Sato K, Han D, Kawakami M, Tsushima T, Shizume K. Effects of tumor necrosis factor-Alpha/Cachectin on thyroid hormone metabolism in mice. Endocrinology (1988) 123(3):1461–7. doi: 10.1210/endo-123-3-1461

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

36. Sato K, Satoh T, Shizume K, Ozawa M, Han D, Imamura H, et al. Inhibition of 125i organification and thyroid hormone release by interleukin-1, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and interferon-gamma in human thyrocytes in suspension culture. J Clin Endocrinol Metab (1990) 70(6):1735–43. doi: 10.1210/jcem-70-6-1735

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

37. Boelen A, Kwakkel J, Fliers E. Beyond low plasma T3: local thyroid hormone metabolism during inflammation and infection. Endocr Rev (2011) 32(5):670–93. doi: 10.1210/er.2011-0007

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

38. Brigadeau F, Kouakam C, Klug D, Marquie C, Duhamel A, Mizon-Gerard F, et al. Clinical predictors and prognostic significance of electrical storm in patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillators. Eur Heart J (2006) 27(6):700–7. doi: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehi726

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

39. Hung Y, Lin WH, Lin CS, Cheng SM, Tsai TN, Yang SP, et al. The prognostic role of qtc interval in acute myocarditis. Acta Cardiol Sin (2016) 32(2):223–30. doi: 10.6515/acs20150226a

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

40. Xu M, Jiang T, Zhou Y, Yang X. Influence of echocardiographic measurements and renal impairments on the prognosis of fulminant myocarditis. Med (Baltimore) (2018) 97(5):e9812. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000009812

CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

41. Yang YW, Wu CH, Ko WJ, Wu VC, Chen JS, Chou NK, et al. Prevalence of acute kidney injury and prognostic significance in patients with acute myocarditis. PloS One (2012) 7(10):e48055. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0048055

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

42. Henderson KK, Danzi S, Paul JT, Leya G, Klein I, Samarel AM. Physiological replacement of T3 improves left ventricular function in an animal model of myocardial infarction-induced congestive heart failure. Circ Heart Fail (2009) 2(3):243–52. doi: 10.1161/CIRCHEARTFAILURE.108.810747

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

43. Amin A, Chitsazan M, Taghavi S, Ardeshiri M. Effects of triiodothyronine replacement therapy in patients with chronic stable heart failure and low-triiodothyronine syndrome: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. ESC Heart Fail (2015) 2(1):5–11. doi: 10.1002/ehf2.12025

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

44. Pingitore A, Galli E, Barison A, Iervasi A, Scarlattini M, Nucci D, et al. Acute effects of triiodothyronine (T3) replacement therapy in patients with chronic heart failure and low-T3 syndrome: a randomized, placebo-controlled study. J Clin Endocrinol Metab (2008) 93(4):1351–8. doi: 10.1210/jc.2007-2210

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Keywords: low T3 syndrome, fulminant myocarditis, 30-day mortality, biomarkers, prognosis

Citation: Miao G, Pang S, Zhou Y, Duan M, Bai L and Zhao X (2023) Low T3 syndrome is associated with 30-day mortality in adult patients with fulminant myocarditis. Front. Endocrinol. 14:1164444. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1164444

Received: 12 February 2023; Accepted: 16 May 2023;
Published: 31 May 2023.

Edited by:

Daniel Elías-López, National Institute of Medical Sciences and Nutrition Salvador Zubirán, Mexico

Reviewed by:

Polina Popova, Almazov National Medical Research Centre, Russia
Akira Sugawara, Tohoku University, Japan

Copyright © 2023 Miao, Pang, Zhou, Duan, Bai and Zhao. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

*Correspondence: Xiaoyan Zhao, ZmNjemhhb3h5OEB6enUuZWR1LmNu

Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.