– Forgetfulness and mental – Bradycardia slowing – Decreased cardiac output – Paresthesias – Pericardial effusion – Carpal tunnel syndrome – Reduced voltage on EKG – Ataxia and decreased and flat T waves hearing – Dependent edema – Tendon jerk slowed with prolonged relaxation phase Hypothyroidism Symptoms • Gastrointestinal • Pulmonary – Constipation – Responses to hypoxia and – Achlorhydria with hypercapnia are decreased pernicious anemia – Pleural effusions high – Ascitic fluid with high protein protein • Musculoskeletal • Renal – Arthralgia – Reduced excretion of water – Joint effusions load – Muscle cramps • Hyponatremia – CK can be elevated – Decreased renal blood flow and glomerular filtration • Anemia – Normochromic normocytic – Megaloblastic • Pernicious anemia Hypothyroidism Symptoms • Skin and hair • Metabolism – Loss of lateral eye brows – Hypothermia – Dry, cool skin – Intolerance to cold – Facial features – Increased cholesterol and • Coarse and puffy triglyceride • Reproductive system • Decreased lipoprotein receptors – Menorrhagia from – Weight gain anovulatory cycles – Hyperprolactinemia • No inhibition of thyroid hormone Myxedema Coma
• Is the end stage of long standing severe
hypothyroidism characterized by altered mental status, hypothermia & symptoms related to slowing of function in multiple organs.
• It is a medical emergency carrying mortality rate of
30-50%. Myxedema Coma Diagnosis • Defective • Precipitating illness or thermoregulation event – Normal body temperature – Exclude pulmonary or with sepsis urinary tract source – Trauma • Age – Stroke – Most are elderly • Decreased ability to – Hypoglycemia compensate – Hypothermia – CO2 narcosis – Diuretics – Sedatives – Tranquilizers – Winter season – Drug overdose Clinical features • Prototypical patient is an elderly female with long standing history of hypothyroidism.
• The hallmarks of myxedema coma are decreased
mental status and hypothermia, but hypotension, bradycardia, hyponatremia, hypoglycemia, and hypoventilation are often present as well. • Neurologic manifestations — Despite the name myxedema coma, patients frequently do not present in coma but do manifest lesser degrees of altered consciousness. • This usually takes the form of confusion with lethargy and obtundation. • Alternatively, patient may have prominent psychotic features, so-called myxedema madness. • Untreated, patients will progress to coma. • Focal or generalized seizures may occur, sometimes due to concomitant hypoglycemia or hyponatremia. Cardiovascular abnormalities-
• Severe hypothyroidism is associated with
bradycardia, decreased myocardial contractility, a low cardiac output, and sometimes hypotension.
• Pericardial effusion may be present.
• Its clinical manifestations include diminished heart
sounds, low voltage on electrocardiogram (ECG), and a large cardiac silhouette on chest radiograph. Hypothermia-
• The low body temperature may not be recognized
initially, because many automatic thermometers do not register frankly hypothermic body temperatures.
• The severity of the hypothermia is related to
mortality in severe hypothyroidism; the lower the temperature, the more likely a patient is to die. Hypoventilation -
• Hypoventilation with respiratory acidosis results primarily
from central depression of ventilatory drive with decreased responsiveness to hypoxia and hypercapnia.
• Other contributing factors include respiratory muscle
weakness, mechanical obstruction by a large tongue, and sleep apnea.
• Some patients require mechanical ventilation.
• Airway management may be complicated by
myxedematous infiltration of the pharynx Laboratory evaluation • TSH • Free thyroxine (T4) • Cortisol • Blood glucose levels • Arterial blood gases • CBC • Electrolytes • KFT Key laboratory findings • Reduced free T4 • High TSH (primary hypothyroidism) • Low or high normal TSH(central hypothyroidism) • Low blood sugar • Hyponatremia • Hypercapnia with respiratory acidosis • Hypoxemia • leukocytosis Treatment and emergency management • Secure airway and obtain iv access • ICU admission • Thyroid hormone • Glucocorticoids • Supportive measures • Appropriate management of coexisting problems (eg, infection) • Cardiovascular support – Dilute fluids should be avoided in hyponatremic patients to prevent a further reduction in the plasma sodium concentration. – Fall in blood pressure is ominous • Look for GI bleed, MI, over diuresis or iatrogenic vasodilatation • Endocrine support – Hydrocortisone 100 mg Q8 hrs • Treat possible coexisting primary or secondary adrenal insufficiency • Stop once cortisol level is confirmed to be normal. • Body temperature support – Poikilothermic – No aggressive warming • Vasodilatation= vascular collapse – Passive warming • Respiratory support – Intubation may be needed – If HCT <30%, transfuse • Provide adequate perfusion and oxygen carrying capacity • Thyroid hormone therapy – 300-500 mcg i.v. Levothyroxine bolus then,
– 50-100 mcg IV Qday
• Lower doses for smaller people or older at risk for cardiac events
• IV to bypass poor absorption in the bowel
– Alternately give T4 and T3 due to decreased T3
conversion • 200-300 mcg T4 then 50 mcg/day bolus
• 5-20 mcg T3 then 2.5-10 mcg Q8 hrs
• Addition of Levothyroxine causes – Increase in cardiac index 1-2 days – TSH falls 32% in 24 hrs – Serum T3 levels increased on 3rd day – Reversal of blunted ventilatory responses 7 days • Obtain Free T4- 3 days after initiation of therapy to make sure it is increasing – Adjust to normalize value • Once tolerating PO can change to oral therapy – Increase IV dose by 40% for oral dosing • ie: IV 100 mcg then 140 mcg PO