Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 3, 2026

Zebra II as A Novel System to Record Electrophysiological Signals in Zebrafish
06:15

Zebra II as A Novel System to Record Electrophysiological Signals in Zebrafish

Published on: August 16, 2024

930

[AMIODARONE AND THE THYROID FUNCTION]

Tomislav Jukić, Marija Punda, Maja Franceschi

    Lijecnicki Vjesnik
    |September 19, 2015
    PubMed

    Amiodarone is a benzofuran derivative that contains up to 40% of iodine. Amiodarone is used for treatment and prevention of life threatening supraventricular and ventricular tachyarrhythmias. The effects on thyroid gland vary from abnormalities in thyroid function tests to overt amiodarone induced hypothyroidism (AIH) and thyrotoxicosis (AIT). Patients with AIH are treated with L-thyroxine and may continue treatment with amiodarone. Two different forms of AIT have to be distinguished: amiodarone induced hyperthyroidism (AIT I) and thyroiditis (AIT II). AIT I is treated with antithyroid drugs, while total thyroidectomy and iodine-131 are used for definitive treatment. AIT II is treated with glucocorticoids. Patients with AIT have to stop treatment with amiodarone. Dronedarone is a less potent antiarrhythmic agent with structural and pharmacological properties similar to amiodarone. Dronedarone is devoid of iodine with fewer adverse effects and therefore it may be used in high risk patients for development of AIT or AIH.

    More Related Videos

    Author Spotlight: Accurately Assessing Thyroid Hormone-Driven Motor Alterations in Mouse04:05

    Author Spotlight: Accurately Assessing Thyroid Hormone-Driven Motor Alterations in Mouse

    Published on: October 6, 2023

    836
    Isolation of Human Atrial Myocytes for Simultaneous Measurements of Ca2+ Transients and Membrane Currents10:53

    Isolation of Human Atrial Myocytes for Simultaneous Measurements of Ca2+ Transients and Membrane Currents

    Published on: July 3, 2013

    21.2K

    Related Concept Videos

    Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Class III Agents as Potassium Channel Blockers01:12

    Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Class III Agents as Potassium Channel Blockers

    Class III antiarrhythmic drugs are a group of medications that can prolong action potentials in the heart. They achieve this by blocking potassium channels or enhancing inward currents from sodium channels. However, these drugs have a unique property of "reverse use-dependence," which is most pronounced at slower heart rates and can lead to torsades de pointes—a specific type of arrhythmia. However, it is essential to note that excessive QT interval prolongation—a measure of...
    2.9K
    Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Class I Agents as Sodium Channel Blockers01:22

    Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Class I Agents as Sodium Channel Blockers

    Class I antiarrhythmic drugs are used to treat various types of arrhythmias or irregular heart rhythms. These drugs block the sodium (Na+) channels in the cardiac cells, thereby affecting the movement of electrical impulses across the heart. Class I antiarrhythmic drugs are divided into three subgroups: Class IA, Class IB, and Class IC, each with distinct mechanisms of action and effects on the heart.
    Class 1A Antiarrhythmic Drugs: These drugs work by moderately blocking sodium channels,...
    4.1K
    Synthesis and Regulation of Thyroid Hormones01:20

    Synthesis and Regulation of Thyroid Hormones

    Low blood levels of the thyroid hormones — triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) — signal the hypothalamus to release the thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH). TRH then reaches the pituitary gland and stimulates the release of thyroid-stimulating hormone(TSH) into the bloodstream.
    Upon reaching the thyroid gland, TSH stimulates the follicular cells' active uptake of iodide ions from the blood. The ions diffuse to the apical surface of the cells and are oxidized to iodine. The...
    9.0K
    Functions of Thyroid Hormones01:18

    Functions of Thyroid Hormones

    The thyroid hormone (TH) plays a pivotal role in the intricate orchestration of physiological processes, exerting profound effects on development, metabolism, and homeostasis throughout different life stages.
    TH is indispensable for the normal development and maturation of the skeletal, muscular, and nervous systems during fetal and childhood growth. It facilitates bone mineral turnover and regulates protein synthesis in developing tissues, contributing significantly to overall growth and...
    6.7K
    Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Class II Agents as β-Adrenergic Blockers01:24

    Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Class II Agents as β-Adrenergic Blockers

    Adrenergic stimulation generally impacts cardiac rate and rhythm. Specifically, stimulation of the β-adrenoceptors triggers an increase in intracellular calcium ion influx and pacemaker currents, which may cause arrhythmias. Catecholamines like adrenaline also demonstrate β2-adrenoceptor-mediated hypokalemia, impacting cardiac action potential and disrupting the normal cardiac rhythm. Class II antiarrhythmic drugs are β-adrenoceptor antagonists or β-blockers, which...
    2.3K
    Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Class IV Agents as Calcium Channel Blockers01:20

    Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Class IV Agents as Calcium Channel Blockers

    Class IV antiarrhythmic drugs, such as verapamil and diltiazem, block calcium channels. They primarily affect the heart, slowing the conduction in calcium-dependent tissues like the SA and AV nodes. These drugs manage reentrant supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) and reduce ventricular rate in atrial flutter/fibrillation.
    Verapamil, a calcium channel blocker, inhibits calcium movement across myocardial cell membranes and vascular smooth muscle. This results in the dilation of coronary and...
    2.7K