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Possible Involvement of Hypothyroidism as a Cause of Lithium‐Induced Sinus Node Dysfunction
Author(s) -
NUMATA TETSUYA,
ABE HARUHIKO,
TERAO TAKESHI,
NAKASHIMA YASUHIDE
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
pacing and clinical electrophysiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.686
H-Index - 101
eISSN - 1540-8159
pISSN - 0147-8389
DOI - 10.1111/j.1540-8159.1999.tb06823.x
Subject(s) - medicine , lithium (medication) , sinus (botany) , cardiology , node (physics) , botany , structural engineering , engineering , biology , genus
Although several reports have stated that even therapeutic levels of lithium can induce sinus node dysfunction, the mechanism has not been fully elucidated. We present here two patients with sinus node dysfunction after long‐term lithium therapy. Following lithium discontinuation, sinus node function recovered completely. After resuming lithium, however, irreversible sinus node dysfunction recurred and a permanent pacemaker was implanted in one patient. The serum concentration of lithium was within therapeutic levels. Nevertheless, hypothyroidism was associated with the sinus node dysfunction in both patients. Thus, thyroid function may play an important role in sinus node dysfunction induced by lithium. (PACE 1999; 22[Pt. I]‐.954‐957) lithium, sinus node dysfunction, hypothyroidism, sick sinus syndrome