Clinical Characteristics of Thyrotoxicosis Presented by Coronary Spasm / 대한갑상선학회지

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Cardiovascular symptoms are integral and often the most predominant clinical presentation in patients with thyrotoxicosis. In patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease, myocardial ischemia and angina-like chest pain may be presented due to increase in cardiac output and cardiac contractility as a result of thyrotoxicosis. In addition, coronary spasm may result in angina-like chest pain in thyrotoxicosis patients without any fixed coronary artery stenosis. However, there are few reports about clinical characteristics of thyrotoxicosis associated with coronary artery spasm. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Coronary angiography, thyroid function test, and follow-up clinical data of patients were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: Twelve patients with coronary artery spasm were included over 4.5 years (malefemale, 57). The mean age of patients was 53.3 years (range, 27 to 68), and female patients were younger than male patients (mean, 56.2 vs. 51.2 years). Only 4 patients (33%) presented typical thyrotoxic symptoms. The causes of thyrotoxicosis were Grave's disease (75%) and painless thyroiditis (25%). On coronary angiography, severe coronary spasm was observed by provocation in 6 patients, and total occlusion of right coronary artery and left circumflex artery with chest pain developed in 2 of 6 patients. After antithyroid treatment, all patients became free of chest pain. CONCLUSION: Severe coronary artery spasm can be associated with thyrotoxicosis. Thyroid function test might be a differential diagnostic test in patients with coronary artery spasm. It should be considered that thyrotoxicosis can be presented by coronary artery spasm without typical symptom of thyrotoxicosis.