Treatment of Congestive Heart Failure and Angina Pectoris by Total Ablation of the Normal Thyroid Gland

In an earlier communication which presented therapeutic results following total ablation of normal thyroid gland in patients with angina pectoris or congestive failure 1 it was stated that the manner in which relief is afforded by removal of thyroid gland probably involves several different, though related, mechanisms. The decreased amount of work by heart, decreased metabolism of heart itself, and decreased sensitivity to epinephrine are some of possible factors that are being studied. The purpose of this communication is to present studies of latter factor, namely, sensitivity of cardiovascular system to epinephrine before and after total thyroidectomy. Three aspects of physiologic action of epinephrine in man have been studied: (1) sensitivity to epinephrine injected intravenously in patients with normal cardiovascular systems, angina pectoris or chronic heart failure; (2) sensitivity to epinephrine of patients at various levels