Sodium nitroprusside infusion prevents hypothyroidism in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting: a prospective randomized clinical trial.

Objective: The level of thyroid hormones is an important factor in determining the outcome of coronary artery bypass patients. Sodium nitroprusside (SNP) is a natural donor of nitric oxide which has been shown to interfere with thyroid hormone synthesis. Whether clinical use of sodium nitroprusside has any effect on thyroid function has not yet been investigated.