Hypothyroidism: causes, killers, and life-saving treatments.
Hypothyroidism is a very common, yet often overlooked disease. It can have a myriad of signs and symptoms, and is often nonspecific. Identification requires analysis of thyroid hormones circulating in the bloodstream, and treatment is simply replacement with exogenous hormone, usually levothyroxine (Synthroid). The deadly manifestation of hypothyroidism is myxedema coma. Similarly nonspecific and underrecognized, treatment with exogenous hormone is necessary to decrease the high mortality rate.
Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 110 South Paca Street, 6th Floor Suite 200, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA. Electronic address: sdubbs@umem.org.
Sarah B
SB
Dubbs
Emergency Medicine Residency Program, University of Maryland Medical Center, 110 South Paca Street, 6th Floor Suite 200, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
Ryan
R
Spangler
D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000379:methods*; D014943:Global Health; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D015994:Incidence; D007455:Iodine / Q000172:deficiency*; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000378:metabolism*
D013963:Thyroid Hormones; D007455:Iodine
Coma; Hypothyroidism; Levothyroxine; Myxedema; Thyroid; Thyroid-stimulating hormone