Graves´ disease presenting with complete heart block in a South African lady from Mthatha: a case report

Abstract

Graves´ disease (GD) is an autoimmune thyroid disease first described by Robert Graves in 1835. Patients with GD usually present with symptoms such as heat intolerance, palpitations, tremors, and weight loss. Tachyarrhythmias are the typical cardiac rhythm abnormalities in thyrotoxicosis due GD. We report on a patient with thyrotoxicosis due to Graves´ disease who presented to our institution with symptomatic bradycardia characterized by dizziness and syncope. Electrocardiogram confirmed complete heart block. Therefore, Graves´ disease can present unusually with complete heart block instead of a typical tachyarrhythmia.

Keywords

• graves´ disease
• thyrotoxicosis
• hyperthyroidism
• complete heart block
• mthatha
• south africa