Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Subclinical Hypothyroidism: An Overlooked Cause of Atrial Fibrillation?

Citation :  Theofilos M. Kolettis, Agathocles Tsatsoulis

The association between clinical1 or subclinical2 hyperthyroidism and atrial fibrillation is established from large prospective cohort studies, with serum free thyroxin (T4) concentrations correlating with atrial fibrillation rates.3 However, the role of subclinical hypothyroidism as a causal factor for atrial fibrillation has not been elucidated.

Recently, we have had under our care two patients with episodes of paroxysmal or persistent atrial fibrillation and absence of identifiable causes, other than subclinical hypothyroidism.

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