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Question:
Could my thyroid medication adversely affect my aortic valve?
I have a bicuspid aortic valve and hypothyroidism. When my doctor increased my thyroid med (levothyroxine), I had severe chest pains. My doctor ordered a stress echo which did not show any coronary artery disease. Is it possible that the levothyroxine has a detrimental effect on my compromised aortic valve? Thank you.
submitted Judy from Madison, Wisconsin on 8/16/2012
Answer:
by Texas Heart Institute cardiologist, Maher M. Nasser, MD
Dear Judy, Thyroid disorders have nothing to do with bicuspid aortic valves, however, thyroid disease and meds may cause chest pain if somebody has blocked heart arteries. Although a stress echo is a good test, a nuclear stress test is a better test to rule out coronary heart disease. Please discuss this with your cardiologist. Regards.
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Updated August 2012
