Abstract

A CLINICAL STUDY OF CARDIOVASCULAR MANIFESTATIONS IN HYPOTHYROIDISM

Dr. C. Jayabhaskar, Dr. M. Ramadevi* and Dr. K. Raghavendhra

Abstract

Background: Hypothyroidism is the clinical syndrome that results from decreased secretion of thyroid hormones from the thyroid gland. Hypothyroidism is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Cardiovascular manifestations of hypothyroidism are quite dramatic and include bradycardia, diastolic hypertension, diastolic dysfunction, pericardial effusion, systolic dysfunction. Synthesis and to a greater extent, the degradation of lipids are depressed in hypothyroidism with a net effect of accumulation of LDL and Triglycerides. Objectives: The objectives of the study are to study various cardiovascular manifestations and abnormalities in lipid profile in relation with the TSH levels in hypothyroid patients. Methodology: In this study, a total of 50 newly detected hypothyroid patients presenting to the department of medicine, SVRRGG Hospital, Tirupati from july 2013 to june 2014 were studied for various cardiovascular abnormalities by means of Thyroid profile, ECG, ECHO, Fasting Lipid profile. Results: In this study, most patients belonged to the age group of 41-50 years with female preponderance. Most common symptom was weight gain (62%) and the most common sign was delayed ankle jerk (64%). Bradycardia (42%), Diastolic Hypertension (32%) were the most commonly found cardiovascular signs. Bradycardia (42%), low voltage complexes (34%) were the most commonly found ECG abnormalities. Pericardial effusion (32%), Grade I diastolic dysfunction (14%), Grade II diastolic dysfunction (10%) and increased interventricular septal thickness (6%) were the various echo abnormalities observed. CONCLUSION: Bradycardia was the most common ECG abnormality. Pericardial effusion was the most common ECHO abnormality in the study. Any unexplained pericardial effusion should be screened for hypothyroidism. Patients with increasing levels of TSH values had more abnormal ECG and ECHO findings and more dyslipidemia.

Keywords: Cardiovascular manifestations of hypothyroidism are quite dramatic and include bradycardia, diastolic hypertension, diastolic dysfunction, pericardial effusion, systolic dysfunction.