Korean J Med.  2005 Feb;68(2):220-225.

A case of hyperthyroidism with complete atrioventricular block

• Lee J
• Lee CB
• Park YS
• Kim DS
• Choi WH
• Kim TW
• Ahn YH

Abstract

The importance of cardiovascular system involvement in hyperthyroidism has been recognized for many years. Many electrocardiographic abnormalities have been described in hyperthyroidism, including sinus tachycardia, atrial fibrillation, and atrial or ventricular extrasystoles and the increase in resting heart rate are characteristics of hyperthyroidism. In the middle aged or elderly patients, often with mild but prolonged elevation of plasma thyroid hormone, symptoms and sign of heart failure and complicating atrial fibrillation may eliminate the classical clinical feature and mask the more classical endocrine manifestation of the disease. Though rare in hyperthyroidism, the development of heart block is important to recognize in clinical practice. The mechanism of variable delayed conduction (from 1st degree to complete heart block) in hyperthyroidism is not well documented until now. We experienced 67-year-old female patient who complained of loss of body weight. After work-up with thyroid function test and electrocardiogrpahy, we found that she had hyperthyroidism with complete atrioventricular block. We started antithyroid drug and continued to monitor electrocardiophy. We are going to give the radioactive iodine theraphy and in the case of symptomatic atrioventricular block, we will make a insertion of pacemaker.

Keyword

Hyperthyroidism; Complete atrioventricular block

MeSH Terms

Aged
Atrial Fibrillation
Atrioventricular Block*
Body Weight
Cardiovascular System
Electrocardiography
Female
Heart
Heart Block
Heart Failure
Heart Rate
Humans
Hyperthyroidism*
Iodine
Masks
Middle Aged
Plasma
Tachycardia, Sinus
Thyroid Function Tests
Thyroid Gland
Ventricular Premature Complexes
Iodine