[Therapeutic effect of low-dose thyroxin in elderly patients with refractory heart failure and euthyroid sick syndrome].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the therapeutic effect of low-dose thyroxin in elderly patients with refractory heart failure (RHF) and euthyroid sick syndrome (ESS).


METHODS
Fifty-four elderly patients with RHF and ESS were randomized into conventional treatment group (n=32) and L-thyroxine group with additional oral L-thyroxine at the daily dose of 6.25-25 microg (n=22). The changes in the plasma levels of brain natriuretic peptides (BNP), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and cardiac function (NYHA level) of the two groups were compared after 1 month of treatment.


RESULTS
Five patients receiving conventional treatment died due to severe arrhythmia during the treatment, and in the other 27 patients, the levels of plasma BNP, LVEF, and cardiac function showed no significant improvements after 1 month of treatment (P>0.01). In L-thyroxine group, no death or severe arrhythmia occurred, and the levels of plasma BNP, LVEF, and cardiac function were significantly improved after the treatment (P<0.01). No thyrotoxicosis occurred during the administration of L-thyroxine in the latter group.


CONCLUSIONS
Low-dose L-thyroxine in addition to the conventional treatments may enhance the therapeutic effect in elderly patients with RHF and ESS.
Department of Gerontology, Guangzhou General Hospital of Guangzhou Command, Guangzhou, China. superliuze@163.com
Ze
Z
Liu
Jun
J
Wu
Yuan-yuan
YY
Zhang
De-guang
DG
Feng
Ling
L
Liu
Jie
J
Sun
Yan
Y
Peng
Zhen-hui
ZH
Guo
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005067:Euthyroid Sick Syndromes / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D013974:Thyroxine