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Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
Elevated TSH in relation to arrythmias ?
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Elevated TSH in relation to arrythmias ?
by Jeanne Iwata, R.N., Oct 22, 1999 12:00AM
I have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis and am have been taking
Synthroid for 11 years. 2 years ago, I was non-compliant with
my meds for about 3 months. Very Bad !This is what happened then:
While logging onto my computer, I experienced sudden onset of
leg & arm weaknes/numbness, grey "sparklies" in my eyes and a
parching thirst. I walked to the restroom for water and noticed
that my lips were white. A fellow nurse took my vitals -
HR-170, B/P 120/100. At the E/R, the T3 & T4 were normal but
the TSH was 6. EKG: Sinustachycardia.Rare PVCs.
I continued to have generalized weakness and numbness for 5-6 weeks until the TSH came down to 3-4. I was
placed on a mini dose (25mg) of Atenolol which caused a
bradycardia (<50) documented on the "King of Hearts" monitor. B/P
@ 80/40. Med was D/C'd. ETT WNL.
My question is: Is there a relation between elevated TSH with
tachyarrythmias ? I know that this was not a panic attack as
there no fear factors/gloom/doom or anxiety. Just, "what is
going on here? From a 43 y.o. former cardiac (Boston City Hosp
& Mass General) R.N.
Thank you,
Jeanne Iwata, R.N.
Synthroid for 11 years. 2 years ago, I was non-compliant with
my meds for about 3 months. Very Bad !This is what happened then:
While logging onto my computer, I experienced sudden onset of
leg & arm weaknes/numbness, grey "sparklies" in my eyes and a
parching thirst. I walked to the restroom for water and noticed
that my lips were white. A fellow nurse took my vitals -
HR-170, B/P 120/100. At the E/R, the T3 & T4 were normal but
the TSH was 6. EKG: Sinustachycardia.Rare PVCs.
I continued to have generalized weakness and numbness for 5-6 weeks until the TSH came down to 3-4. I was
placed on a mini dose (25mg) of Atenolol which caused a
bradycardia (<50) documented on the "King of Hearts" monitor. B/P
@ 80/40. Med was D/C'd. ETT WNL.
My question is: Is there a relation between elevated TSH with
tachyarrythmias ? I know that this was not a panic attack as
there no fear factors/gloom/doom or anxiety. Just, "what is
going on here? From a 43 y.o. former cardiac (Boston City Hosp
& Mass General) R.N.
Thank you,
Jeanne Iwata, R.N.
Doctor's Answer
by CCF CARDIO MD - DLB, Oct 22, 1999 12:00AM
Generally it is an overactive thyroid, represented by a low TSH, that is associated with arrhythmia such as atrial fibrillation. TSH should be measured with the sensitive assay; according to our lab standards, values of 3, 4, and 6 [the ones you list] are all normal. Too much Synthroid can simulate an overactive thyroid; however, too little Synthroid [resulting in a high TSH] should not really have caused the arrhythmia problems you appear to have had. It might be that you have an arrhythmia problem unrelated to your thyroid, and evaluation by a cardiac electrophysiologist may be helpful.
