Korean Circ J.  2016 Nov;46(6):870-874. 10.4070/kcj.2016.46.6.870.

Life Threatening Complication of Self-made Remedy for Controlling High Blood Pressure-Coronary Artery Vasospasm Associated with Iatrogenic Thyrotoxicosis

• Kang IS
• Pyun WB

• KMID: 2355466
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4070/kcj.2016.46.6.870

Abstract

We report the case of a middle aged woman who was previously diagnosed with hypertension. She had been drinking a kelp concentrate solution daily for her hypertension instead of taking the prescribed medicine due to her personal beliefs about the kelp solution. As a consequence, she experienced vasospastic angina complicated by myocardial infarction and cardiogenic syncope resulting from iatrogenic thyrotoxicosis. Complementary medicine is widely used by the general population. However, there is still a lack of evidence regarding their efficacy and safety. This case shows that inadequate use of complementary medicine could have no effect and may even be harmful. In patients with chronic diseases such as hypertension, self-care in the form of life style modification, home blood pressure monitoring and medial adherence are important for disease management.

Keyword

Complementary medicine; Kelp; Thyrotoxicosis; Angina pectoris, variant; Adherence

MeSH Terms

Angina Pectoris, Variant
Arteries*
Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory
Chronic Disease
Complementary Therapies
Disease Management
Drinking
Female
Humans
Hypertension
Kelp
Life Style
Middle Aged
Myocardial Infarction
Self Care
Syncope
Thyrotoxicosis*

Figure

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  Fig. 1 EKG telemetry showing serial changes in the EKG from normal (A), ST-segment elevation, (B) to QRS widening (C), as the patient fainted. EKG: electrocardiogram.

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  Fig. 2 Coronary angiography showing diffuse significant luminal narrowing of the left anterior descending artery (A) which was relived after intracoronary nitroglycerine injection (B) but minimal atherosclerotic lesions still remained.

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  Fig. 3 Coronary angiography showed significant luminal narrowing of mid-right coronary artery (A) which was relived after intracoronary nitroglycerine injection (B).

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  Fig. 4 Thyroid scan showed decreased 24-h iodine uptake.

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