ECG Abnormalities associated with Hypothyroidism
- Bradycardia
- Low QRS voltage
- Widespread T-wave inversions (usually without ST deviation)
Other ECG changes that may be seen include:
- QT prolongation
- First degree AV block
- Interventricular conduction delay
Mechanism
- Myxoedematous deposits of gelatinous connective tissue within the myocardium.
- Decreased activity of the sympathetic nervous system
- Effects on the myocardium of reduced levels of thyroxine (i.e. reduced inotropy/chronotropy)
ECG Examples
Example 1

Myxoedema coma
- This is the admission ECG of a 79-year old man who was referred to ICU with coma, hypothermia, severe bradycardia and hypotension refractory to inotropes.
- TSH was markedly elevated with an undetectable T4.
- The ECG shows marked bradycardia (30 bpm) with low QRS voltages (esp. in the limb leads) and widespread T-wave inversions, typical of severe myxoedema.
Example 2 –

Myxoedema coma (after treatment)
- An ECG of the same patient shortly after initiation of thyroid replacement with intravenous T3 and T4.
- The heart rate has normalised and the T-wave inversion has corrected.
- Low voltage in the limb leads persists and is likely due to myxoedematous infiltration of the myocardium.
Example 3
Related Topics
Advanced Reading
- Brady WJ, Truwit JD. Critical Decisions in Emergency and Acute Care Electrocardiography
- Hampton, JR. The ECG In Practice, 6e
- Surawicz B, Knilans T. Chou’s Electrocardiography in Clinical Practice: Adult and Pediatric, 6e
- Wagner, GS. Marriott’s Practical Electrocardiography 12e
- Chan, TC. ECG in Emergency Medicine and Acute Care
- Mattu, A. ECG’s for the Emergency Physician
LITFL Further Reading
- ECG BASICS — Waves, Intervals, Segments and Clinical Interpretation
- ECG A to Z by diagnosis –alphabetical diagnostic approach to the ECG
- ECG CLINICAL CASES — ECG’s placed in clinical context with a challenging Q&A approach
- 100 ECG Quiz — Self-assessment tool for examination practice
- ECG Reference SITES and BOOKSÂ — the best of the rest
- LITFL ECG IMAGE Database — Searchable database of LITFL ECG’s
- ECG and Cardiology Eponymous Syndromes — Cheats guide to eponymous emancipation
- ECG Exam Template — a framework for answering ECG exam questions.
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