title: Neuromuscular complications of thyrotoxicosis.
abstract: Thyroid hormones exert multiple effects on the neuromuscular system and the brain, with the most important being their role in stimulating the development and differentiation of the neuromuscular system and brain in foetal and neonatal life. In the presence of hyperthyroidism, muscular and neurological symptoms may be the presenting clinical features of the disease. The frequency and severity of neuromuscular complications vary considerably and are probably related to the degree of hyperthyroidism, although in some patients the neuromuscular dysfunction is caused by associated disorders rather than by hyperthyroidism per se. This update focuses on the most common neurological and muscular disorders that occur in patients with thyrotoxicosis. It is beyond the scope of this paper to discuss thyroid eye disease and cardiac complications, in themselves separate complications of specific myocytes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. awckung@hkucc.hku.hk
authors.forename: Annie W C
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Kung
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D013956:Antithyroid Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D006980:Hyperthyroidism / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009468:Neuromuscular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D013971:Thyrotoxicosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D014202:Tremor / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D013956:Antithyroid Agents