Irreversible cardiomyopathy due to thyrotoxicosis

We report 4 adult patients with thyrotoxicosis accompanied by irreversible low-output heart failure. Each patient showed elevated plasma levels of thyroid hormone and prolonged low-output heart failure even after thyroid function returned to normal. Specimens of the right ventricular myocardium stained with anti-beta myosin heavy-chain MAb showed a normal staining pattern with a predominance of the beta-form. Our observations suggest that thyrotoxicosis may be one possible cause of irreversible cardiomyopathy.