title: Hypothyroidism and muscular respiratory failure successfully treated with liothyronine.
abstract: After total thyroidectomy because of hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism developed in a 78-year-old woman. Despite replacement therapy with levothyroxine sodium in continuously increasing doses, worsening hypothyroidism led to respiratory failure, necessitating artificial ventilation. The addition of liothyronine resulted in complete recovery. Impaired conversion of thyroxine to triiodothyronine by the dejodase was responsible for the manifestations of hypothyroidism.
authors.affiliation: Neurologisches Krankenanstalt Rosenhügel, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Josef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Finsterer
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Prainer
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stöllberger
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Valentin
authors.forename: Christa
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jarius
authors.forename: Regina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schreier
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000209:etiology*; D013965:Thyroidectomy; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017211:Treatment Failure; D014284:Triiodothyronine / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D014284:Triiodothyronine; D013974:Thyroxine