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Atrial Fibrillation and Arterial Embolism in Hyperthyroidism
Author(s) -
Hurley D. M.,
Hunter A. N.,
Hewett M. J.,
Stockigt J. R.
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.596
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1445-5994
pISSN - 0004-8291
DOI - 10.1111/j.1445-5994.1981.tb03519.x
Subject(s) - medicine , atrial fibrillation , atrial flutter , cardiology , sinus rhythm , arterial embolism , embolism , normal sinus rhythm , cardiac arrhythmia
Atrial fibrillation or flutter was present in 70 of 381 patients with uncontrolled hyperthyroidism; return to stable sinus rhythm occurred in 39 with antithyroid and anti‐arrhythmic treatment. One third of the patients who reverted did so in the first week of treatment while still hyperthyroid. As expected, reversion was more likely in younger patients, and in those with arrhythmia of recent onset, without evidence of other heart disease. Eight patients with arrhythmia had proven (five) or probable (three) major arterial embolic episodes. Four of these eight patients died. Embolism tended to occur at an early stage, during uncontrolled hyperthyroidism, in patients with both atrial fibrillation and cardiac failure. These findings suggest that prophylactic anticoagulation may be appropriate in this high risk group, although more extensive studies are necessary before effective prevention of embolism can be claimed.