title: The spectrum of echocardiographic abnormalities in hypothyroidism and the effect of hormonal treatment.
abstract: Cross-sectional echocardiography was used to identify and quantify different cardiac abnormalities in 85 patients with hypothyroidism. Pericardial effusion was the most common and was found in 32 patients (37.6%), while abnormal increase in left ventricular dimensions with impairment of function followed next in frequency (16.4%). Asymmetrical septal hypertrophy as well as segmental wall motion abnormality were each detected in 11.76%. Holosystolic prolapse of the mitral valve was present in only 4.7% of the cases. Different combinations of abnormalities were observed in a total of 22 patients (25.76%), and pericardial effusion was a constant finding. Some of the abnormalities were reversed with physiological thyroxin replacement, but abnormal wall motion remained unimproved.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, College of Medicine and King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Nouh
authors.forename: O O
authors.initials: OO
authors.lastname: Famuyiwa
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Sulimani
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al-Nuaim