CHANGES IN THYROID-HORMONE PARAMETERS AFTER ACUTE MYOCARDIAL-INFARCTION

Abnormalities in circulating thyroid hormone levels are very common in systemic nonthyroidal illnesses, such as acute myocardial infarction. In this study, thyroid parameters were determined in a series of 16 consecutive infarction patients treated by thrombolysis. Blood samples were taken before therapy as well as 2, 4, 6, 8, 12 and 72 h following admission. Total and free serum thyroxin and triiodothyronine decreased and reverse T3 increased significantly showing no major variations up to 72 h, whereas thyroid-stimulating hormone values remained almost unchanged during the observation period. Subjects with CK-MB levels of more than 150 ng/ml (n = 10) revealed similar changes in thyroid parameters in comparison to those with lower values (n = 6; NS). Thus, although hormone modifications very often occur following acute infarction, thyroid status may not serve as a marker for the extent of left ventricular dysfunction in the early phase of myocardial infarction.