Question:

What will you give to treat hypothyroidism in a patient with ischemic heart disease?

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Start low and go slow to spare the ischaemic myocardium.
Updated On: Jun 24, 2026
  • Low dose of levothyroxine
  • Normal dose of levothyroxine
  • Do not give levothyroxine
  • Thyroid extract
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The Correct Option is A

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Hypothyroidism must still be corrected in a patient with ischaemic heart disease (IHD), because untreated hypothyroidism worsens lipids and cardiac function.
Step 2: However, thyroid hormone increases myocardial oxygen demand, heart rate and contractility. Giving a full replacement dose abruptly can precipitate angina, arrhythmia or myocardial infarction in a diseased coronary circulation.
Step 3: The safe approach is to start with a low dose of levothyroxine (for example 12.5 to 25 micrograms/day) and titrate up slowly over weeks while monitoring symptoms, so option 1 is correct.
Step 4: A normal/full starting dose (option 2) is unsafe; withholding therapy entirely (option 3) leaves hypothyroidism untreated; thyroid extract (option 4) gives unpredictable T3/T4 ratios and is not preferred.
Conclusion: The answer is option 1 (Low dose of levothyroxine).
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