Hyperthyroid heart disease

The heart is an organ sensitive to the action of thyroid hormone, and measu rable changes in cardiac performance are detected with small variations in thyroid hormone serum concentrations. Most patients with hyperthyroidism ex perience cardiovascular manifestations, and the most serious complications of hyperthyroidism occur as a result of cardiac involvement. Recent studies provide important insights into the molecular pathways that mediate the ac tion of thyroid hormone on the heart and allow a better understanding of th e mechanisms that underlie the hemodynamic and clinical manifestations of h yperthyroidism. Several cardiovascular conditions and drugs can interfere: with thyroid hormone levels and may pose a difficulty in interpretation of laboratory data in patients with suspected thyroid heart disease. The focus of this report is a review of the current knowledge of thyroid hormone act ion on the heart and the clinical and hemodynamic laboratory findings as we ll as therapeutic management of patients with hyperthyroid heart disease.