title: Complete recovery after severe myxoedema coma complicated by status epilepticus.
abstract: We report a case of life-threatening myxoedema presenting with hypothermia, hypotension, bradycardia, pericardial effusion and deep coma. The condition was complicated by prolonged status epilepticus. The optimal treatment strategy has been debated over the years and the literature is briefly reviewed. Treatment with l-thyroxine (LT4) monotherapy without initial loading dose and with no l-triiodothyronine (LT3) treatment was successful with full recovery after hospitalisation for more than a month. Myxoedema coma is a rare, reversible condition with a high mortality and should be considered as a differential diagnosis in medical emergencies.
authors: Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus C, Denmark.
authors: Jesper
authors: J
authors: Fjølner
authors: Department of Endocrinology and Internal Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus C, Denmark.
authors: Esben
authors: E
authors: Søndergaard
authors: Department of Endocrinology and Internal Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus C, Denmark.
authors: Ulla
authors: U
authors: Kampmann
authors: Department of Endocrinology and Internal Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus C, Denmark.
authors: Søren
authors: S
authors: Nielsen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003128:Coma / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D003422:Critical Care; D005260:Female; D015600:Glasgow Coma Scale; D006801:Humans; D007022:Hypotension; D007035:Hypothermia; D009230:Myxedema / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D013226:Status Epilepticus / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D013963:Thyroid Hormones; D013974:Thyroxine