Arterial stiffness but not intima-media thickness is increased in euthyroid patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis: The effect of menopausal status.

Background: Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) is an autoimmune disorder associated with increased cardiovascular risk, mainly as a result of accelerated atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of HT on carotid atherosclerosis and arterial stiffness, as possible mediators of this vascular impairment. Menopausal status was also considered in this setting since HT is mainly prevalent in women.