Myxedema coma in a patient with Down's syndrome.
BACKGROUND
hyroid dysfunction is common in Down's syndrome, most common being hypothyroidism. Longstanding, untreated hypothyroidism can lead to myxedema coma.


METHODS
Here we report a patient with Down's syndrome who presented with myxedema coma.


CONCLUSIONS
The three essential elements for the diagnosis of myxedema coma include altered mental status, defective thermoregulation and a precipitating event or illness; all of these were present in our patient. Also, very high TSH, low T3 and T4, and the rapid response to the treatment with levothyroxine confirmed the diagnosis.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with Down's syndrome should have regular screening for thyroid dysfunction.
Bansal
Darpan
D
Nanda
Ashish
A
Gupta
Ekta
E
Croker
Mary
M
Williams
Misty L
ML
Bacchus
Amy
A
Simmons
Debra
D
Erbland
Marcia
M
D000328:Adult; D003128:Coma / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009230:Myxedema / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000097:blood*
D013963:Thyroid Hormones