What is the cause of myxedema?
Myxedema is a result of undiagnosed or untreated severe hypothyroidism. It can also develop when someone stops taking their thyroid medication. It’s more common in the elderly and women. Deposits of chains of sugar molecules in the skin cause the skin condition myxedema.
What is the treatment of myxedema coma?
Patients with suspected myxedema coma should be admitted to an intensive care unit for vigorous pulmonary and cardiovascular support. Most authorities recommend treatment with intravenous levothyroxine (T4) as opposed to intravenous liothyronine (T3).
What are symptoms of myxedema?
Signs and symptoms of myxedema coma
- Hypothermia.
- Hypotension.
- Bradycardia.
- Decreased pulse pressure, normal systolic pressure, elevated diastolic pressure.
- Decreased respiratory rate.
- Periorbital puffiness.
- Macroglossia.
- Coarse or thinning hair.
What medications can cause myxedema coma?
Hypothyroidism due to any cause, including autoimmune disease, iodine deficiency, congenital abnormalities, or medications like lithium and amiodarone, can precipitate myxedema coma if left untreated.
How do you treat myxedema rash?
Treatment of myxedema symptoms
- Compression stockings, which may help reduce the swelling associated with myxedema.
- Topical corticosteroids, which may be used to decrease the inflammation associated with skin thickening in myxedema.
How do you test for myxedema?
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 myxedema be reversed?
Myxedema is most often addressed by treating the underlying cause of hypothyroidism that led to the thickening and coarseness of the skin. Medication to replace the reduced thyroid hormones is the most common treatment, and when dosed appropriately, may halt the progression of myxedema.
Why is hydrocortisone given in hypothyroidism?
Pituitary-adrenal function is impaired in severe hypothyroidism. Restoration of a normal metabolic rate with exogenous thyroid hormones may precipitate adrenal insufficiency. It is therefore prudent to administer glucocorticoids in stress doses (e.g. hydrocortisone 100 mg intravenously every 8 hours).
What type of shock is myxedema?
Myxedema-associated cardiogenic shock treated with intravenous triiodothyronine. Ann Intern Med 1992; 117:1014.
How is myxedema diagnosed?
How is cell hypothyroidism treated?
The current conventional medical treatment for hypothyroidism is daily thyroid hormone supplementation with synthetic levothyroxine (T4), liothyronine (T3), or natural desiccated thyroid (T4 and T3) to correct low levels.
