The heart, innocent bystander of a sleeping thyroid. A case report

The heart, innocent bystander of a sleeping thyroid. A case report

Valentina Barletta ¹, Francesco De Sanctis ¹, Claudia Santini ¹, Valeria Santonato ¹, Francesca Fiorelli ¹, Veronica Della Tommasina ¹, Anna Tamberi ², Lorenzo Faggioni ³, Paolo Caravelli ¹, Mario Marzilli ¹

¹ University Division of Cardiology, Cardiothoracic and Vascular Department; Pisa, Italy
² Endocrinology Division; University of Pisa, Italy
³ Radiology Division; University of Pisa, Italy

Abstract

Thyroid hormones have important physiological effects on the cardiovascular system. Both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism induce changes in heart rate, cardiac contractility, myocardial oxygen consumption, cardiac output, blood pressure and systemic vascular resistances. These cardiovascular effects are reversible when the underlying thyroid disorder is early recognized and treated, but tend to be irreversible in long lasting thyroid dysfunctions. We present a rare case of myxedema associated with cardiac involvement in a young male patient.