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DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-924977
Prolonged Ventricular Repolarization Measured by Corrected QT Interval (QTc) in Subclinical Hyperthyroidism
Publication History
Received 19 May 2005
Accepted after revision 22 September 2005
Publication Date:
13 February 2006 (online)


Abstract
Overt hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism exert a major effect on cardiac function and on ECG. The influence of subclinical hyperthyroidism on the circulatory system is still under debate. Few studies examined the effect of thyroid hormones on ventricular repolarization measured by corrected QT interval (QTc). Longer QTc is associated with increased risk of arrhythmia and cardiac mortality. The aim of this study was to examine the influence of subclinical hyperthyroidism on ventricular repolarization measured by corrected QTc in a standard 12-lead electrocardiogram. The examined group consisted of thirty-two patients with subclinical hyperthyroidism; the controls were thirty-nine healthy individuals. In the group with subclinical hyperthyroidism, we observed a significant increase in heart rate (80.3 ± 10.59 vs. 73.7 ± 11.37 bpm, p < 0.05). The mean corrected QTc was 0.434 ± 0.0207 seconds and 0.414 ± 0.0208 in the examined groups and in controls, respectively (p < 0.001). QTc did not correlate with free thyroxin concentrations (p = 0.5084). Conclusion: Corrected QT intervals were significantly longer in patients with subclinical hyperthyroidism.
Key words
Thyroid - ECG - heart - thyroxine