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[The characteristics of the myocardial morphofunctional status of hypothyroidism patients]
Insights
Hypothyroidism can cause heart muscle damage (myocardiodystrophy) and fluid around the heart (hydropericardium). While treatment improves these conditions, they may be irreversible in older patients.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Endocrinology
- Internal Medicine
Background:
- Hypothyroidism, a condition of underactive thyroid, can lead to significant cardiovascular complications.
- Myocardial and pericardial involvement are recognized but not fully characterized aspects of severe hypothyroidism.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the cardiac morphofunctional state in patients with hypothyroidism during decompensation and after thyroid hormone therapy.
- To assess the reversibility of cardiac alterations in relation to age and treatment.
Main Methods:
- Utilized electro- and echocardiography to evaluate heart function and structure in 19 hypothyroid patients.
- Measured hormonal blood levels using radioimmunoassay (RIA).
- Monitored changes during disease decompensation and following thyroid hormone replacement therapy.
Main Results:
- Identified nonspecific electro- and echocardiographic alterations indicative of hypothyroid myocardiodystrophy.
- Observed hydropericardium in nearly half of the patients.
- Demonstrated slow positive dynamics in myocardial alterations post-treatment, with evidence of irreversibility in patients over 45.
- Noted rapid resolution of pericardial exudate upon achieving euthyroid status.
Conclusions:
- Hypothyroid myocardiodystrophy and hydropericardium are significant findings in decompensated hypothyroidism.
- Thyroid hormone therapy improves cardiac function, but alterations may be irreversible in older individuals.
- Pericardial effusion associated with hypothyroidism is responsive to achieving euthyroid status.
Abstract:
Electro- and echocardiography were used to examine the morphofunctional state of the heart in 19 patients with hypothyrosis during disease decompensation and after therapy with thyroid hormones. The hormonal blood content was measured by RIA. Nonspecific alterations of the electro- and echocardiographic readings characterizing hypothyroid myocardiodystrophy were discovered. Almost half of the cases manifested hydropericardium. The discovered myocardial alterations were marked by a slow positive dynamics. In patients over 45 years, they appeared irreversible in nature. The pericardial exudate resolved shortly after the euthyroid status was attained.