As the clinical manifestation of hypothyroid heart disease is often subtle

it is very easy to be misdiagnosed. In this report of 50 cases

it was mistaken for 18 other disease

altogether 72 times. 50%

patients were misdiagnosed twice and in anoccasional patient as many as 5 times. In the same patient

it may be mistaken for several other diseases in the course of diagnosis. It was most frequently mistaken for coronary heart disease

anemic heart disease

chronic glornerulenephritis and hepatic cirrhosis

less so for primary cardiomyopathy

schizophrenia and involutional syndrome. Hypothyroid heart disease can be cured completely

and to be alert to its presence is apprently very important

when there is any suspicion

further test for thyroid function is needed.