MEDIUM TERM EFFECTIVENESS OF THYROXINE TREATMENT IN CONGESTIVE CARDIAC FAILURE (CCF)

Objectives: To test the medium term efficacy of L-thyroxin compared with placebo and to find out if later effects are obtainable in patients of CCF. Material and Methods: It was an experimental, randomized, double blind clinical trial, recruiting patients of CCF visiting O.P.D or admitted in Fauji Foundation Hospital Rawalpindi. The subjects were in two groups i.e thyroxin group (cases) and placebo group (controls) of 30 each. Pulse rate, E.C.G findings/ryhthm, cardiothoracic ratio on CXR, holter findings if applicable, ejection fraction on echocardiography, T3 T4 TSH levels, weight were the parameters compared. Results: There was significant difference between the mean ejection fractions of patients with congestive cardiac failure after receiving thyroxin for 3 months. There was no significant difference between the mean ejection fractions of patients with congestive cardiac failure after receiving placebo for 3 months. Conclusion: In heart failure a three month treatment with thyroxin has beneficial effects in terms of increasing the ejection fraction of the failing heart without inducing undesired effects like rhythm disturbances.