Thyroid : official journal of the American Thyroid Association
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Thyroid hormone has important effects on the heart and peripheral vascular system. The relationship between thyroid disease states and cardiovascular hemodynamics is well recognized. Diverse clinical situations are associated with low serum triiodothyronine (T3) levels including a number of cardiovascular illnesses. ⋯ Low serum T3 levels resulting from cardiopulmonary bypass can be safely reversed with pharmacologic T3 supplementation. Data have suggested that T3 repletion may improve postoperative hemodynamic performance and lower the incidence of arrythmias. However, beneficial effects on major clinical outcome variables have not yet been conclusively demonstrated, and require future large-scale clinical trials.