title: Myxedema coma in a patient with Down's syndrome.
abstract: 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.
authors.forename: Darpan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bansal
authors.forename: Ashish
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nanda
authors.forename: Ekta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Croker
authors.forename: Misty L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bacchus
authors.forename: Debra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Simmons
authors.forename: Marcia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Erbland
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D013963:Thyroid Hormones