Table 1.

Cardiac manifestations of hypothyroidism

Symptoms and signs

Exertional dyspnoea, reduced exercise tolerance

Bradycardia

Hypertension

Oedema (often non-pitting)

Cardiac dysfunction with poor contractility, dilatation or pericardial effusion

Pericardial and pleural effusions

Electrocardiographic changes

Sinus bradycardia

Low voltage complexes

Long QT – predisposing to torsade de pointes

Biochemical changes

Dyslipidaemia (high total cholesterol and LDL)

Elevated serum homocysteine

Elevated serum creatine kinase

LDL, low-density lipoprotein.