Heart Failure as the First Clinical Manifestation of Basedow’s Disease

Abstract

Abstract Introduction Thyroid hormones influence multiple systems, but most often the impact on the cardiovascular system is what brings the patient to the emergency department. Basedow’s disease, an autoimmune condition, is one of the most common causes of hyperthyroidism. The purpose of this presentation is to raise attention to an extracardiac cause that can lead to cardiac failure. Case presentation A 55-year-old woman presented to our cardiology service with rapid palpitations, shortness of breath on small efforts, and extreme fatigue. The electrocardiogram revealed sinus tachycardia with a heart rate of 144 beats per min. Paraclinical investigations and a multidisciplinary team consultation led to a diagnosis of thyrotoxicosis due to Basedow’s disease. Following the initiation of cardiological and endocrinological treatments, the patient’s condition improved. Conclusion Although hyperthyroidism is an extracardiac cause, it brought the patient to the cardiology emergency service for heart failure symptoms. The key to achieving a correct diagnosis and determining an optimal treatment lies in the multidisciplinary approach of pathology.