Case study of thyrotoxic cardiomyopathy

BMJ Case Rep. 2019 Aug 20;12(8):e228896. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2018-228896.

Abstract

We present the case of a 65-year-old woman who was referred urgently from primary care with worsening breathlessness for 3 weeks, associated with tachycardia and left bundle branch block (LBBB). She had a background of type 2 diabetes, asthma and hypertension. Initial ECG revealed atrial fibrillation with the fast ventricular rate on the background of LBBB. ECHO findings were consistent with systolic impairment. Initial testing including checking thyroid function test revealed hyperthyroidism. It became evident that this patient had thyrotoxic cardiomyopathy. Early advice from the endocrine team was sought and the patient was treated with a combination of carbimazole and ivabradine. After a hospital stay, she made a remarkable recovery.

Keywords: arrhythmias; heart failure; thyroid disease.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Antihypertensive Agents / therapeutic use
  • Bisoprolol / therapeutic use
  • Bundle-Branch Block / diagnosis*
  • Bundle-Branch Block / drug therapy
  • Bundle-Branch Block / physiopathology
  • Carbimazole / therapeutic use
  • Cardiomyopathies / diagnosis*
  • Cardiomyopathies / drug therapy
  • Cardiomyopathies / physiopathology
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2
  • Dyspnea
  • Electrocardiography
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Tachycardia
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antihypertensive Agents
  • Carbimazole
  • Bisoprolol