Thyroid Hormone and the Cardiovascular System

Thyroid hormone has many effects on the heart and vascular system.1 Many of the clinical manifestations of hyperthyroidism are due to the ability of thyroid hormone to alter cardiovascular hemodynamics.2 The hemodynamic effects of hypothyroidism are opposite to those of hyperthyroidism, although the clinical manifestations are less obvious. This review will integrate what is known about the mechanisms of thyroid hormone action on the heart25 with recent observations from both experimental and clinical studies of hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. We will also address the potential role of thyroid hormone treatment in patients with acute or chronic cardiac disease.Effects of . . .