Telangiectasia as a presenting sign of Graves' disease.
Acquired nevoid telangiectasia (ANT) is observed in several conditions including primary cutaneous disorders, systemic autoimmune disease and hyperestrogenism occurring in puberty, pregnancy and chronic liver disease. We describe a patient in whom ANT was a presenting sign of autoimmune hyperthyroidism, which improved after thyroidectomy. A 43-year-old Caucasian woman experienced an asymptomatic development of multiple widespread red skin lesions, diagnosed to be ANT. Blood tests revealed increased serum levels of free tri-iodothyronine and thyroxine and suppressed thyroid-stimulating hormone. Other causes of ANT were excluded. ANT improved but did not disappear after thyroidectomy. The possible pathogenetic factors linking ANT and Graves' disease, such as an immune-mediated process, altered estrogen metabolism or vasodilatation associated with hyperdynamic circulation, are discussed.
Casadio
Rachele
R
Department of Internal Medicine, Cardioangiology and Hepatology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
Santi
Valentina
V
Mirici-Cappa
Federica
F
Magini
Giulia
G
Cacciari
Mauro
M
Bernardi
Mauro
M
Trevisani
Franco
F
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006111:Graves Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D013684:Telangiectasis / Q000209:etiology*