Pathophysiological Complexity of Amiodarone-Induced Hypothyroidism (AIH) in patient With Congenital Heart Disease- Ebstein Anomaly: a case report
Abstract Background: Amiodarone is a class III antiarrhythmic drug, used for the threatment of life threatening supraventricular and ventricular tachyarrhythmias and widely used in prevention of life threatening tachyarrhythmia in adults with congenital heart disease. Thyroid dysfunction is a potentially serious complication of amiodarone therapy, especially in older patients with acquired heart disease. Cause there is no published systematic study on amiodarone-associated hypothirodism in patients with congenital heart disease, we report the case of a patient with Ebstein anomaly, a rare congenital heart disorder, who developed hypothyroidism after prolonged amiodrone therapy. We report a possible pathophysiological link of amiodarone-induced hypothyroidism in a patient with rare congenital heart disease, that has not been reported in a significant number in the literature so far.Case presentation: A female, 55-year-old patient with history of Ebstein anomaly (non operated), presented to a family medicine doctor with symptoms of progressive dyspnoea, fatigue and dysfagia for several months. Electrocardiography, echocardiography and chest X- ray confirmed presence of Ebstain anomaly. Laboratory results (including thyroid hormone values) and thyroid ultrasound were performed which confirmed the presence of hypothyroidism.Conclusions: According to available data, there is no published systematic study on amiodarone-associated hypothirodism in patients with congenital heart disease (large cohort studies). Pathophysiological complexity, however, could be due to the agent triggering autoimmune thyroid disease, so it is possible that amiodarone precipitated the onset of preexisting autoimmune disease. The value of regular thyroid function testing and measurement of thyroid antibodies should be considered in patients during amiodarone administration, especially in older patients with rare congenital heart disease.