title: A patient with postpartum primary hypothyroidism and acquired von Willebrand's disease.
abstract: Patients with hypothyroidism often complain about easy bruising. We describe a patient with a postpartum acquired bleeding tendency. Hypothyroidism was suspected and confirmed biochemically. After substitution therapy with levothyroxine the bleeding tendency recovered completely. The coagulation disorder appeared to be based on an acquired von Willebrand's disease, secondary to the hypothyroidism. In patients with von Willebrand's disease underlying diseases have to be excluded.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Bosch Medicentrum, Groot Ziekengasthuis, 's Hertogenbosch, Netherlands.
authors.forename: V C
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Tjan-Heijnen
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Harthoorn-Lasthuizen
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Kurstjens
authors.forename: M I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Koolen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001780:Blood Coagulation Tests; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004438:Ecchymosis / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011644:Puerperal Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014842:von Willebrand Diseases / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D013974:Thyroxine