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Activation of Electrical Triggers of Atrial Fibrillation in Hyperthyroidism

Departments of Cardiovascular Medicine (K.W., A.B., T.S., E.D.) and Endocrinology (B.C., P.D.), University Hospital Bern, and Department of Physiology (J.P.K.), University of Bern, CH-3010 Bern, Switzerland; and Division of Nephrology and Department of Medicine (A.Z.), Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois and University of Lausanne, CH-1011 Lausanne, Switzerland

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Etienne Delacrétaz, M.D., F.E.S.C., Professor of Cardiology, Swiss Cardiovascular Center Bern, University Hospital, CH-3010 Bern, Switzerland. E-mail: etienne.delacretaz{at}insel.ch.

Context: A shortening of the atrial refractory period has been considered as the main mechanism for the increased risk of atrial fibrillation in hyperthyroidism. However, other important factors may be involved.

Objective: Our objective was to determine the activity of abnormal supraventricular electrical depolarizations in response to elevated thyroid hormones in patients without structural heart disease.

Patients and Design: Twenty-eight patients (25 females, three males, mean age 43±11 yr) with newly diagnosed and untreated hyperthyroidism were enrolled in a prospective trial after exclusion of heart disease. Patients were followed up for 16 ± 6 months and studied at baseline and 6 months after normalization of serum TSH levels.

Main Outcome Measures: The incidence of abnormal premature supraventricular depolarizations (SVPD) and the number of episodes of supraventricular tachycardia was defined as primary outcome measurements before the start of the study. In addition, heart rate oscillations (turbulence) after premature depolarizations and heart rate variability were compared at baseline and follow-up.

Results: SVPDs decreased from 59 ± 29 to 21 ± 8 per 24 h (P = 0.003), very early SVPDs (so called P on T) decreased from 36 ± 24 to 3 ± 1 per 24 h (P < 0.0001), respectively, and nonsustained supraventricular tachycardias decreased from 22 ± 11 to 0.5 ± 0.2 per 24 h (P = 0.01) after normalization of serum thyrotropin levels. The hyperthyroid phase was characterized by an increased heart rate (93 ± 14 vs. 79 ± 8 beats/min, P < 0.0001) and a decreased turbulence slope (3.6 vs. 9.2, P = 0.003), consistent with decreased vagal tone. This was confirmed by a significant decrease of heart rate variability.

Conclusion: Hyperthyroidism is associated with an increased supraventricular ectopic activity in patients with normal hearts. The activation of these arrhythmogenic foci by elevated thyroid hormones may be an important causal link between hyperthyroidism and atrial fibrillation.