Prospective, Observational Study on the Carotid Intima-media Thickness in Patients Undergoing Thyroid Surgery (TIROVASC)

Prospective, Observational Study on the Investigation of the Carotid Intima-media Thickness in Patients Undergoing Thyroid Surgery

The evaluation of carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) has become a possible predictor of the future risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Evidence to date shows that cIMT augmentation is correlated with the extent of atherosclerosis in the coronary arteries and with other risk factors for CVD. More recently, several studies have evaluated the association of cIMT with stroke, to determine whether this measure can also predict future cardiovascular events.

Although the published evidence is scarce and fragmentary, the cIMT retains an increasingly interesting role as a marker of atherosclerotic pathology.

The purpose of the study is to analyze cIMT in patients undergoing thyroidectomy to evaluate a possible correlation between the cIMT variation after the procedure and the cause of the thyroid disease, the levels of thyroid hormones, and the lipid or other markers of atherosclerosis levels.

The primary endpoint will be the variation of the measure of the cIMT before and after surgery.

Secondary endpoints will be:

• major cardiovascular adverse events (death, major stroke, minor stroke, transient ischemic attack) in the short-term period (≤30 days after the procedure);
• major cardiovascular adverse events (death, major stroke, minor stroke, transient ischemic attack) in the long-term period (>30 days after the procedure);
• the technical success of the procedure;
• the rate of postoperative complications. To date, there are no data that differentiate patients based on the causes of thyroid disease. The results of the present study will allow for correlating the variation of the cIMT to the causes of thyroid disease, the levels of thyroid hormones, and the levels of lipid and other markers of atherosclerosis.

Results from the present study may provide insights into possible areas of quality improvement. It may also influence the economic impact associated with carotid revascularization techniques, in terms of hospital charges and discharges to skilled nursing and rehabilitation facilities.

Study Overview

• Status: Withdrawn
• Conditions: Graves Disease; Hyperthyroidism; Thyroid Cancer; Multinodular Goiter; Plummer Disease; Euthyroid Goiter; Basedow Disease
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Experimental

• Study Type: Observational

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Italy
  • Milan, Italy, 20145
    • Istituto Auxologico Italiano , IRCCS

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 100 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

All the potential eligible candidates will be recruited.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients undergoing thyroidectomy according to the American Thyroid Association (ATA), International neural monitoring study group guideline (INMSG), Italian Society of Endocrine Surgery (SIUEC);
• subjects who have read and signed the informed consent;
• subjects who undertake to undergo the instrumental examinations and visits necessary for the study during the follow-up;
• >18 years of age.

Exclusion Criteria:

• occlusion or stenosis of at least one carotid artery, with plaque > 30%;
• exposure to ionizing radiation;
• previous neck, carotid (endarterectomy or stenting) and/or thyroid surgery;
• clinical conditions that preclude proper follow-up;
• HIV, dialysis therapy and all clinical conditions with increased cIMT;
• uncontrolled dyslipidemia;
• pregnant and breastfeeding women;
• terminal patients.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

1

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort

Intervention / Treatment

Experimental; Patients who will undergo thyroidectomy

Other: Experimental; Patients will undergo thyroidectomy according to the guidelines American Thyroid Association (ATA), Randolph. The following assessments will be performed within 10 days before the thyroidectomy procedure: informed consent;; personal data and medical records;; registration of medical therapy and post-procedural pharmacological protocol; surgical check;; supra-aortic trunks EchocolorDoppler;; pre-procedural blood sampling. The following assessments will be performed after 30 days, 6 months and 12 months from the thyroidectomy procedure: surgical checks;; registration of drug therapy;; recording of all adverse events that occurred during hospitalization; supra-aortic trunks EchocolorDoppler and cIMT measurement;; blood sampling.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change from baseline in Carotid Intima-Media Thickness (cIMT)	cIMT is a measurement of the thickness of tunica intima and tunica media, the innermost two layers of the wall of an artery. The measurement is made by external ultrasound according to the recommendation of the Joint Carotid Intima-Media Thickness and Plaque Area Measurement in Ultrasound for Cardiovascular/Stroke Risk Monitoring.	Baseline (10 days before the surgery), 30 days, 6 months and 12 months after the surgery

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Cumulative incidence of adverse events during periprocedural period	Incidence of death, major stroke, minor stroke, transient ischemic attack	Within 30 days after the surgery
Cumulative incidence of adverse events during postprocedural period	Incidence of death, major stroke, minor stroke, transient ischemic attack	Between 30 days after the surgery and 12 months after surgery
Change from baseline in lipid profile	Total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol	Baseline (10 days before the surgery), 30 days, 6 months and 12 months after the surgery

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Istituto Auxologico Italiano

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): September 5, 2022
• Primary Completion (Actual): August 31, 2024
• Study Completion (Actual): August 31, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 22, 2023
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 7, 2023
• First Posted (Actual): March 17, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimated): October 2, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 29, 2025
• Last Verified: September 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: cardiovascular disease; carotid intima-media thickness; carotid artery; thyroid disease
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Endocrine System Diseases; Neoplasms by Site; Neoplasms; Autoimmune Diseases; Immune System Diseases; Eye Diseases; Endocrine Gland Neoplasms; Head and Neck Neoplasms; Exophthalmos; Orbital Diseases; Goiter; Thyroid Diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases; Graves Disease; Hyperthyroidism; Thyroid Neoplasms; Euthyroid Goiter
• Other Study ID Numbers: 34C211

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: YES

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No