Liothyronine and Heart Failure. The Long Term Effect of Liothyronine on Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction (LVEF)

Liothyronine and Heart Failure. The Long Term Effect of Liothyronine on Heart Function, Body Composition and Metabolic Status

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to examine if treatment with liothyronine increases left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in patients with stable, chronic heart failure.

The patients are examined 3 times. At baseline, after 3 months and after 6 months.After the examination is performed, they begin the study medication while admitted at Dept. of Cardiology, Herlev Hospital, for cardiac monitoring.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients with stable, chronic systolic heart failure
• T3 ≤1.4 nmol/l in two blood samples, TSH is to be normal
• LVEF ≤ 45 % on prior echocardiography

Exclusion Criteria:

• Established thyroid illness
• Atrial fibrillation/flutter
• More than 20% ventricular extrasystoles
• Severe chronic obstructive lung disorder
• Pregnancy. Pregnancy testing will be done for fertile women
• Age < 18 years