title: [Bradycardia despite hyperthyroidism].
abstract: Hyperthyroidism is usually associated with tachycardia, hypothyroidism with bradycardia. After observing clinically inapparent hyperthyroidism in patients requiring pacemaker implantation, we studied the occurrence of hyperthyroidism in patients receiving a first permanent pacemaker. Of 237 patients (age 71.4 +/- 8.9 years; 54.9% females), 16 (6.75%) had subclinical (TSH < 0.1 mE/l and fT3 < or = 9.0 pmol/l) and 4 (1.69%) overt hyperthyroidism (TSH < 0.1 mE/l and fT3 > 9.0 pmol/l). Prevalence of hyperthyroidism was similar to that in the general population. Compared to euthyroid patients, in the patients with subclinical or overt hyperthyroidism there were significantly more females (n = 16) than males (n = 4; p = 0.018). Hyperthyroid patients were older (75.0 +/- 9.6 vs. 70.7 +/- 8.9 years; p = 0.015). At follow-up, all patients had a relevant proportion of pacemacer-induced beats. Clinical signs of hyperthyroidism or cardiac symptoms were not different between groups. In conclusion, bradycardia does not exclude the presence of hyperthyroidism. Temporary pacing is recommended in thyreotoxicosis with bradycardia. In contrast, primary implantation of a permanent pacemaker appears to be adequate in patients with bradycardia, cardiovascular disease and an additional diagnosis of hyperthyroidism.
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Abteilung Krankenhaus Itzehoe Akademisches Lehrkrankenhaus, Universitäten Kiel und Lübeck Robert-Koch-Str. 2 25524 Itzehoe, Germany. m.kentsch@kh.itzehoe.de
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kentsch
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Otter
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kröger
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Flor
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Rodemerk
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wood
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Müller-Esch
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Ittel
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mitusch
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001919:Bradycardia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006980:Hyperthyroidism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial; D012737:Sex Factors
vernacular_title: Bradykardie trotz Hyperthyreose.