Hyponatraemia complicating the treatment of myxoedema coma. A case report.
Hyponatraemia is a common complication of severe hypothyroidism, but is usually readily corrected by administering L-thyroxine. A case of myxoedema coma in which the serum sodium level dropped precipitously when therapy was started is described and it is suggested that this was due to a state of relative hypocortisolism. Serum sodium values should be closely monitored in myxoedema treated with L-thyroxine; their decrease may signal the onset of an Addisonian-like crisis requiring urgent corticosteroid supplementation.
D003128:Coma / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007010:Hyponatremia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009230:Myxedema / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D013974:Thyroxine; D006854:Hydrocortisone