Childhood obesity is an important health problem representing a major public health concern worldwide. An isolated elevation of Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) with normal levels of thyroid hormones is frequently found in obese children. It has been named Isolated Hyperthyreotropinemia or Subclinical Hypothyroidism (SCH) and may be considered a consequence of obesity. SCH is related to impairment of both systolic and diastolic myocardial function in the adult population. Objective: Aim of this study is to evaluate whether SCH affects myocardial function in childhood obesity. Material and Methods: We examined 48 obese children and adolescents with SCH and 70 obese children and adolescents with normal TSH. Doppler echocardiography was performed in order to evaluate myocardial function to all cases in both groups. Results: Global systolic function was evaluated with, ejection fraction (EF) and compared between groups. Right ventricular global systolic function and pressure were significantly decreased in SCH group. LV mass index was significantly higher in SCH group (p=0.041). Global systolic function was evaluated as EF and no difference was found among the groups. RV global longitudinal function was evaluated with TAPSE measurement and a significant decrease was observed for this value in SCH group compared to the other group (p=0.0015). MAPSE lateral and MAPSE septum which are important for showing LV longitudinal function in SCH group decreased significantly (p=0.004 and p=0.002). Similarly, tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) and peak systolic movement were decreased in SCH group (9,6±1,8 cm/s vs 11.5±1.7 cm/sn; p=0.03). In addition, significant changes were observed in both systolic and diastolic functions in the left ventricle in SCH group. Conclusions: These results suggest the possible involvement of cardiac functions in obese children with SCH.

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