Myxedema coma is associated with decreased mental status and hyponatremia among patients with diagnosed or undiagnosed hypothyroidism. The diagnosis is challenging in the absence of universally accepted diagnostic criteria, but should be considered as a differential even in cases with competing established diagnoses. All patients should receive intensive care level treatment. Even with optimal treatment, mortality is very high.
Myxedema ; Coma

Imiquimod, a toll-like receptor agonist, is a topical immunomodulator that induces the production of several cytokines including interferon-alpha, which shows antifibrotic properties. We hypothesized that the antifibrotic effect of imiquimod would soften fibrotic skin lesions. Therefore, we applied topical imiquimod with topical tacrolimus or systemic acitretin in patients with refractory lesions of myxedema, angiolymphoid hyperplasia, and generalized discoid lupus erythematosus and confirmed improvement in fibrotic lesions in these patients. Thus, we conclude that use of imiquimod improves fibrotic skin lesions. This report describes our experience with the treatment of this condition along with a review of the related literature.
Acitretin ; Angiolymphoid Hyperplasia with Eosinophilia ; Cytokines ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Interferon-alpha ; Lupus Erythematosus, Discoid ; Myxedema ; Skin ; Tacrolimus ; Toll-Like Receptors

Elephantiasis is a symptom characterized by the thickening of the skin and underlying tissues in the legs. Pretibial myxedema (PTM) is a non-frequent manifestation of autoimmune thyroiditis, particularly Graves' disease. Lesions of myxedema occur most commonly on the pretibial surfaces, also develop at sites of previous injury or scars and other areas. A 49-year-old male presented with severe elephantiasis on the both pretibial areas, dorsum of the feet, ankles and toes. Twenty years previously, he had received radioactive iodine treatment for thyrotoxicosis. Laboratory tests showed that the patient's thyroid function was normal, but the level of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) receptor antibodies was very high (>40 IU/L). The biopsy confirmed PTM. Interestingly, the connective tissue was stained with the TSH receptor antibodies in the deep dermis. Elephantiasic PTM is a severe form of the myxedema and there is few reported case. We report a rare case of PTM with appearance of severe elephantiasis.
Ankle ; Antibodies ; Biopsy ; Cicatrix ; Connective Tissue ; Dermis ; Elephantiasis* ; Foot ; Graves Disease ; Humans ; Iodine ; Leg ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myxedema* ; Receptors, Thyrotropin ; Skin ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroiditis, Autoimmune ; Thyrotoxicosis ; Thyrotropin ; Toes

Some patients have ascites without having liver disease, so it is important to analyze the cause of these ascites. Tuberculous peritonitis is an infectious disease characterized by lymphocyte-dominant exudative ascites. In contrast, myxedema ascites is a very rare disease characterized by a high serum/ascites albumin gradient (SAAG) with hypothyroidism. We herein report a case involving a 48-year-old woman with both diseases simultaneously. She was hospitalized because of massive ascites, generalized edema, and a puffy face. Hypothyroidism was confirmed by thyroid function tests. Her ascitic fluid had a high SAAG; no other specific findings were identified by cytology, culture, or computed tomography. Three months after initiating drug therapy for the hypothyroidism, the patient's systemic edema improved but the ascites recurred. Accordingly, diagnostic laparoscopy was performed, and tuberculous peritonitis was confirmed. As seen in this case, when myxedema ascites is associated with tuberculous peritonitis, an accurate diagnosis may be challenging.
Ascites* ; Ascitic Fluid ; Communicable Diseases ; Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy ; Edema ; Female ; Humans ; Hypothyroidism ; Laparoscopy ; Liver Diseases ; Middle Aged ; Myxedema* ; Peritonitis, Tuberculous* ; Rare Diseases ; Thyroid Function Tests

Here we report a 65-year-old male patient initially presented with dyspnea and chest discomfort. This patient was finally diagnosed with severe hypothyroidism accompanied by heart failure, pericardial effusion and acute renal failure. We suspected that heart failure, pericardial effusion and acute kidney injury were induced by severe hypothyroidism. Thus, we began thyroid hormone replacement therapy. After the therapy, the patient's dyspnea and chest discomfort were improved. Hypothyroidism has many complications, such as myxedema, dyslipidemia, and depression. In contrast, heart failure, pericardial effusion, and acute kidney injury are very rare complications of hypothyroidism. Only a few cases of heart failure or renal failure combined with hypothyroidism have been reported. Our case suggests that severe hypothyroidism can lead to multiorgan failure, such as heart failure as well as renal failure. Moreover, congestive heart failure induced by severe hypothyroidism can be reversed by thyroid hormone replacement therapy.
Acute Kidney Injury* ; Aged ; Depression ; Dyslipidemias ; Dyspnea ; Heart Failure* ; Heart* ; Hormone Replacement Therapy ; Humans ; Hypothyroidism* ; Male ; Myxedema ; Pericardial Effusion ; Renal Insufficiency ; Thorax ; Thyroid Gland

Myxedema coma is a severe life-threatening form of hypothyroidism that is associated with a high mortality rate. It is known to be common in the elderly, and is mainly accompanied with cardiogenic shock, respiratory failure, central nervous system dysfunction, and body temperature regulation defects. Thus, immediate management is required in order to prevent fatal complications in myxedema coma. However, early detection is difficult and further, it is easily misdiagnosed due to its low incidence rate and nonspecific symptoms. We report a case of myxedema coma which was misdiagnosed for heart failure. The patient was successfully treated with intensive care and oral low dose levothyroxine.
Aged ; Body Temperature Regulation ; Central Nervous System ; Coma* ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Hypothyroidism ; Hypoventilation ; Incidence ; Critical Care ; Mortality ; Myxedema* ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Shock, Cardiogenic ; Thyroxine*

Pretibial myxedema (PTM) is a asymptomatic localized thickening of the pretibial skin due to deposition of acid mucopolysacharides (glycosaminoglycans). PTM, Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO) and thyroid acropachy are the triad of classic extrathyroidal manifestations of Graves' disease. PTM usually follows the onset of GO, and PTM develops after the diagnosis and treatment of hyperthyroidism. We report here on a 51-year-old female who presented with painful, well demarcated hyperpigmented plaques with nonpitting edema on both lower legs. The histopathologic findings showed an increased accumulation of mucin throughout dermis. In our patient, PTM was the earliest manifestation and this led to the diagnosis of Graves' disease.
Dermis ; Edema ; Female ; Graves Disease ; Humans ; Hyperthyroidism ; Leg ; Middle Aged ; Mucins ; Myxedema ; Skin ; Thyroid Gland

Pretibial myxedema (PTM) is a asymptomatic localized thickening of the pretibial skin due to deposition of acid mucopolysacharides (glycosaminoglycans). PTM, Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO) and thyroid acropachy are the triad of classic extrathyroidal manifestations of Graves' disease. PTM usually follows the onset of GO, and PTM develops after the diagnosis and treatment of hyperthyroidism. We report here on a 51-year-old female who presented with painful, well demarcated hyperpigmented plaques with nonpitting edema on both lower legs. The histopathologic findings showed an increased accumulation of mucin throughout dermis. In our patient, PTM was the earliest manifestation and this led to the diagnosis of Graves' disease.
Dermis ; Edema ; Female ; Graves Disease ; Humans ; Hyperthyroidism ; Leg ; Middle Aged ; Mucins ; Myxedema ; Skin ; Thyroid Gland

Myxedema coma is the extreme form of untreated hypothyroidism. In reality, few patients present comatose with severe myxedema. We describe a patient with myxedema coma which was initially misdiagnosed as a brain stem infarct. She presented to the hospital with alteration of the mental status, generalized edema, hypothermia, hypoventilation, and hypotension. Initially her brain stem reflexes were absent. After respiratory and circulatory support, her neurologic status was not improved soon. The diagnosis of myxedema coma was often missed or delayed due to various clinical findings and concomitant medical condition and precipitating factors. It is more difficult to diagnose when a patient has no medical history of hypothyroidism. A high index of clinical suspicion can make a timely diagnosis and initiate appropriate treatment. We report this case to alert clinicians considering diagnosis of myxedema coma in patients with severe decompensated metabolic state including mental change.
Aged ; Brain Stem Infarctions/diagnosis/radiography ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Diagnostic Errors ; Echocardiography ; Female ; Humans ; Hypothyroidism/complications/drug therapy ; Myxedema/*diagnosis/etiology/radiography ; Republic of Korea ; Thyroxine/therapeutic use ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Myxedema coma is the most extreme form of hypothyroidism and manifests as central nervous system dysfunction, defective thermoregulation, and cardiopulmonary decompensation. The curative treatment is based on the administration of thyroid hormones, but the dose and route of administration remain controversial. Here, we report a case of myxedema coma that was treated successfully with a large oral dose of levothyroxine
Body Temperature Regulation ; Central Nervous System ; Coma ; Hypothyroidism ; Myxedema ; Thyroid Hormones ; Thyroxine