What is idiopathic myxedema?

Idiopathic myxedema is characterized as atrophic thyroid gland and positive autoantibodies to thyroid gland, including TSBab. TSBab is positive in 20-30% cases of idiopathic myxedema. TSBab is disappeared in some cases of TSBab positive idiopathic myxedema during treatment.

What are the signs and symptoms of myxedema?

What is the difference between hypothyroidism and myxedema?

Myxedema coma is an extreme complication of hypothyroidism in which patients exhibit multiple organ abnormalities and progressive mental deterioration. The term myxedema is often used interchangeably with hypothyroidism and myxedema coma.

Which is a characteristic of a patient with myxedema?

Characteristic symptoms are weakness, cold intolerance, mental and physical slowness, dry skin, typical facies, and hoarse voice. Results of the total serum thyroxine and free thyroxine index tests usually will confirm the diagnosis.

Is myxedema the same as Graves disease?

Pretibial myxedema (also called localized myxedema, thyroid dermopathy, or infiltrative dermopathy) is an infrequent manifestation of Graves' disease. It forms the third component of the classical triad of Graves' disease (goiter, orbitopathy, and pretibial myxedema).

Myxedema: Definition, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment

How do you get rid of myxedema?

Treatments for myxedema

Mortality rates are high — as high as 60% in some cases — and recovery can take weeks. Treatment involves administering thyroid hormone replacement medication into a vein. Antibiotics, steroid treatment, and breathing support may help with symptoms.

What TSH level indicates myxedema?

The thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) level was extremely high (>150 uIU/mL; reference range, 0.55–4.78 uIU/mL).

How is myxedema diagnosed?

It often is possible to diagnose myxedema on clinical grounds alone. Characteristic symptoms are weakness, cold intolerance, mental and physical slowness, dry skin, typical facies, and hoarse voice. Results of the total serum thyroxine and free thyroxine index tests usually will confirm the diagnosis.

Can you survive myxedema?

Even with early diagnosis and treatment of myxedema coma, the mortality rate is variable, with some reports as high as 60% and others as low as 20 to 25% in the presence of advanced intensive support care. Early recognition, a thorough history, physical exam, and early treatment are paramount in managing myxedema coma.

Can myxedema be cured?

Depending on the cause, myxedema can be treated with thyroid replacement hormones. These medications are effective in eliminating the symptoms that accompany myxedema and hypothyroidism. If you are prescribed thyroid replacement medications, you will probably need to take them for the rest of your life.

What is the most severe form of hypothyroidism?

Myxedema crisis (also called myxedema coma), the most severe form of hypothyroidism, is rare. It occurs when thyroid hormone levels get very, very low.

What is the prognosis for myxedema?

Myxedema coma is a medical emergency. Early diagnosis, rapid administration of thyroid hormones and adequate supportive measures (Table) are essential for a successful outcome. The prognosis, however, remains poor with a reported mortality between 20% and 50%.

What hormonal imbalances causes myxedema?

myxedema, physiological reaction to lack of sufficient thyroid hormone (hypothyroidism) in the adult. It can be brought about by removal of the thyroid for any cause, by a cessation of function of the gland, or simply by glandular atrophy.

What are the symptoms of Myxoedema in adults?

What do your hands look like if you have hypothyroidism?

Signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism can show up in the hands and nails. Hypothyroidism can cause dermatologic findings such as nail infection, vertical white ridges on the nails, nail splitting, brittle nails, slow nail growth, and nails lifting up.

What happens during a myxedema crisis?

Myxedema crisis is a severe life threatening form of decompensated hypothyroidism which is associated with a high mortality rate. Infections and discontinuation of thyroid supplements are the major precipitating factors while hypothermia may not play a major role in tropical countries.

How common is myxedema?

Risk factors for death in patients with myxedema coma. Hypothyroidism is common, affecting 5-10% of the population. Myxedema coma is a rare medical condition that is the extreme manifestation of severe hypothyroidism.

Does myxedema hurt?

Symptoms of myxedema coma include altered mental status (possibly to the point of being unarousable), swelling, very low body temperature, low heart rate, low blood pressure, abdominal pain, and lung dysfunction.

What is a dangerously low TSH level?

Mild: Low but detectable TSH level — usually 0.1 to 0.4 mIU/L. This applies to 65% to 75% of people with subclinical hyperthyroidism. Severe: TSH level is less than 0.1 mIU/L.

What is a good TSH level for a woman on levothyroxine?

Based on a number of studies, my goal in giving levothyroxine to healthy patients with primary (autoimmune) hypothy- roidism is a thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) level between 0.4 and 3 mU/L, at the lower end of the normal range (0.4–5.5 mU/L) used at The Cleveland Clinic.

How high is too high for hypothyroidism?

Some suggest that TSH levels of over 2.5 milliunits per liter (mU/L) are abnormal, while others consider levels of TSH to be too high only after they have reached 4 to 5 mU/L.

What does high TSH mean when taking levothyroxine?

If you have too much TSH, it may indicate that your thyroid isn't making enough thyroid hormone. This condition is called hypothyroidism, or underactive thyroid. A number of conditions can cause hypothyroidism, including Hashimoto's disease. About 5% of adults in the United States have hypothyroidism.

Is Myxoedema reversible?

Myxoedema coma is a rare, reversible condition with a high mortality and should be considered as a differential diagnosis in medical emergencies.

What hormone is lacking in hypothyroidism?

An underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) is when your thyroid gland does not produce enough of the hormone thyroxine (also called T4).

How does myxedema affect the body?

Myxedema Coma Symptoms

Confusion or non-responsiveness. Feeling cold. Low body temperature. Swelling of the body, especially the face, tongue, and lower legs.