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Myxedema coma is an extreme or decompensated form of hypothyroidism and while uncommon, is potentially lethal. [ 1 ] [ 2 ] [ 3 ] A person may have laboratory values identical to a "normal" hypothyroid state, but a stressful event (such as an infection, myocardial infarction , or stroke ) precipitates the myxedema coma state, usually in the elderly.
Myxedema's characteristic physical sign is non-pitting edema, in contrast to pitting edema. [1] Myxedema can also occur in the lower leg (pretibial myxedema) and behind the eyes (exophthalmos). [citation needed] Severe cases, requiring hospitalization can exhibit signs of hypothermia, hypoglycemia, hypotension, respiratory depression, and coma.
Myxedema psychosis is a relatively uncommon consequence of hypothyroidism, such as in Hashimoto's thyroiditis or in patients who have had the thyroid surgically removed and are not taking thyroxine. A chronically under-active thyroid can lead to slowly progressive dementia , delirium , and in extreme cases to hallucinations , coma , or ...
Myxedema coma can be the first presentation of hypothyroidism. People with myxedema coma typically have a low body temperature without shivering, confusion, a slow heart rate and reduced breathing effort. There may be physical signs suggestive of hypothyroidism, such as skin changes or enlargement of the tongue. [19]
Woltman's sign (also called Woltman's sign of hypothyroidism or, in older references, myxedema reflex [1]) is a delayed relaxation phase of an elicited deep tendon reflex, usually tested in the Achilles tendon of the patient. Woltman's sign is named for Henry Woltman, an American neurologist. [2]
Pretibial myxedema is almost always preceded by the ocular signs found in Graves' disease. [3] It usually presents itself as a waxy, discolored induration of the skin—classically described as having a so-called peau d'orange (orange peel) appearance—on the anterior aspect of the lower legs, spreading to the dorsum of the feet, or as a non-localised, non-pitting edema of the skin in the ...
Signs and symptoms are also applied to physiological states outside the context of disease, as for example when referring to the signs and symptoms of pregnancy, or the symptoms of dehydration. Sometimes a disease may be present without showing any signs or symptoms when it is known as being asymptomatic . [ 13 ]
Compression of trachea, dysphagia are probable outcomes. Marked thyroid follicular cell atrophy confirms hypothyroidism. Signs of hypothyroidism include myxedema, lethargy, cold-intolerance, apathy, slowed intellectual functions, dysthymia or simply depressive-mood, decreased sympathetic activity induced constipation and decreased perspiration.
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