title: Myxedema ascites: case report and literature review.
abstract: Myxedema ascites caused by hypothyroidism is rare, so its diagnosis is often delayed and patients frequently receive unnecessary procedures such as liver biopsies and exploratory laparotomies. We report a 71-yr-old man with clinical ascites that was the first manifestation of hypothyroidism, and which resolved completely in response to thyroid hormone replacement therapy. To our knowledge, this is the first report of myxedema ascites in Korea. A review of the literature revealed 51 well-documented cases of myxedema ascites. Analyses of ascites from patients in this condition usually show high protein (>2.5 g/dL) and low white blood cell counts, with a high proportion of lymphocytes. A consistent feature is the good response to thyroid hormone replacement therapy, which has always led to resolution of the ascites. Myxedema ascites is thus rare but easy to treat; it should be borne in mind, especially if the ascites fluid has a high protein content.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jeong-Seon
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.forename: Hiun-Suk
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Chae
authors.forename: Young-Seok
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Hyung-Keun
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sung-Soo
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Chang-Wook
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Chang-Don
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Bo-In
authors.initials: BI
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hwang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Kang-Moon
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hye-Kyung
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kyu-Yong
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Choi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001201:Ascites / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy; D006801:Humans; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D009230:Myxedema / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000172:deficiency / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D013963:Thyroid Hormones