[Severe Graves' acropachy and dermopathy. Three case reports].
BACKGROUND
Traditionally described, severe Graves' acropachy and tibial myxoedema are now only encountered in certain severe forms of Graves' disease, where they can be difficult to diagnose and hence delay the initiation of treatment.


METHODS
Three patients presented with severe ophthalmopathy, pretibial myxoedema and acropachy of different clinical forms.


CONCLUSIONS
In supplement to the usual biopsies and X-rays, bone scintigraphy provides early diagnosis of acropachy. The severity of the immune disease, the episodes of hypothyroidism and cigarette smoking are the 3 main factors contributing to these extra-thyroid manifestations of Graves' disease. There is currently no treatment that can permanently resolve the functional and aesthetic problems of dermopathy and acropachy.
Proust-Lemoine
E
E
Clinique endocrinologique Marc Linquette, CHU de Lille.
Vantyghem
M C
MC
Bauters
C
C
Nocaudie
M
M
Wémeau
J L
JL
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006111:Graves Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007868:Leg Dermatoses / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009230:Myxedema / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D010005:Osteoarthropathy, Secondary Hypertrophic / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy