Thyrotoxicosis as a Risk Factor for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Authors: Ronald C. Ma, Chun Chung Chow
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2006)

Letters7 February 2006Thyrotoxicosis as a Risk Factor for Pulmonary Arterial HypertensionRonald C. Ma, MB BChir and Chun Chung Chow, MBBSRonald C. Ma, MB BChirFrom Prince of Wales Hospital, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.Search for more papers by this author and Chun Chung Chow, MBBSFrom Prince of Wales Hospital, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-144-3-200602070-00022 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail TO THE EDITOR:Although Rubin and associates (1) pointed out the importance of assessing patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) for underlying autoimmune–collagen vascular disease, the need to assess for thyroid dysfunction and autoimmune thyroid disease was not addressed. Previous studies have suggested a link between primary pulmonary hypertension and autoimmune thyroid disease (2). More recently, it has become apparent that thyrotoxicosis is itself an important risk factor for PAH (3, 4). This may be partly due to the hemodynamic effects of hyperthyroidism because biochemical improvement in thyroid function following treatment has been associated with Doppler echocardiographic evidence of improvement ...References1. Rubin LJ, Badesch DB. Evaluation and management of the patient with pulmonary arterial hypertension. Ann Intern Med. 2005;143:282-92. [PMID: 16103472] LinkGoogle Scholar2. Chu JW, Kao PN, Faul JL, Doyle RL. High prevalence of autoimmune thyroid disease in pulmonary arterial hypertension. Chest. 2002;122:1668-73. [PMID: 12426269] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Nakchbandi IA, Wirth JA, Inzucchi SE. Pulmonary hypertension caused by Graves' thyrotoxicosis: normal pulmonary hemodynamics restored by (131)I treatment. Chest. 1999;116:1483-5. [PMID: 10559121] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. Marvisi M, Brianti M, Marani G, Del Borello R, Bortesi ML, Guariglia A. Hyperthyroidism and pulmonary hypertension. Respir Med. 2002;96:215-20. [PMID: 11999999] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. Merce J, Ferras S, Oltra C, Sanz E, Vendrell J, Simon I, et al. Cardiovascular abnormalities in hyperthyroidism: a prospective Doppler echocardiographic study. Am J Med. 2005;118:126-31. [PMID: 15694895] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar6. O'Donovan D, McMahon C, Costigan C, Oslizlok P, Duff D. Reversible pulmonary hypertension in neonatal Graves disease. Ir Med J. 1997;90:147-8. [PMID: 9267095] MedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: Ronald C. Ma, MB BChir; Chun Chung Chow, MBBSAffiliations: From Prince of Wales Hospital, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.Disclosures: None disclosed. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoEvaluation and Management of the Patient with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Lewis J. Rubin and David B. Badesch Thyrotoxicosis as a Risk Factor for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Lewis J. Rubin and David B. Badesch Metrics 7 February 2006Volume 144, Issue 3Page: 222KeywordsConflicts of interestHemodynamicsHyperthyroidismMedical risk factorsPathogenesisPulmonary hypertensionPulmonary vascular diseasesThyroidThyroid diseasesVascular diseases ePublished: 7 February 2006 Issue Published: 7 February 2006 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2006 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...