FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH CARDIAC ENLARGEMENT IN MYXOEDEMA

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Abstract
A study has been made of the electrocardiographic changes and the radiological size of the heart in 53 patients with myxedema. Typical cardiographic changes of myxedema heart disease were observed in 27 (51%) patients. Of the remaining 26 patients, 11 had minor cardiographic abnormalities, 6 had evidence of coronary artery disease or myocardial infarction, 2 had left ventricular hypertrophy, and 2 a left bundle-branch block pattern: 5 patients (9%) had normal records. Cardiac enlargement was found in 29 patients (55%), most of whom were older and had appreciably higher systemic blood pressures than those patients with normal-sized hearts. Six of the 7 with angina of effort had cardiac enlargement. Fourteen patients (26%) had typical cardiographic changes of myxedema heart disease with normal-sized hearts. The finding of a normal-sized heart in myxedema probably implies lack of associated hypertension or coronary artery disease, despite the presence of an electrocardiogram typical of myxedema heart disease.

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