[Treatment with thyroid hormones with special reference to coronary disease]

Since thyroid hormones in a particular degree increase the need of oxygen of the heart, in a present coronary heart disease must be differentiated between the advantages of a treatment with thyroid hormones and the disadvantages of a deterioration of the angina pectoris and the dangers of a myocardial infarction, respectively, which are to be expected by this. In general one will be reserved with a thyroxine therapy in patients with a bland struma and coronary heart disease. In hypothyreotic patients one has to find out the individual optimum dosis, in which cases all the cardiological measures for the treatment of the coronary heart disease must be used. This optimum dose is a compromise between the inconveniences of the hypothyreosis and the danger of the coronary heart disease. Often a slightly hypothyreotic metabolic condition must be kept, in order not to endanger the patient.