MYXEDEMA COMA

SUMMARY

1. One of 2 thyroid emergencies, metabolic cause of decreased consciousness, 30-40% mortality.

2. Patients with known but inadequately treated hypothyroidism can develop coma precipitated by infections, exacerbations of heart disease, opiates, or cold temperatures.

3. Clinical features: hypothermia, hypoglycemia, seizures, myxedema madness, hypoventilation, bradycardia, hypotension, pericardial effusion, adrenal insufficiency.

Reference(s)

Wilkinson, I., Furmedge, D. and Sinharay, R. (2017). Oxford handbook of clinical medicine. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Get it on Amazon.
Feather, A., Randall, D. and Waterhouse, M. (2020). Kumar And Clark’s Clinical Medicine. 10th ed. S.L.: Elsevier Health Sciences. Get it on Amazon.
Hannaman, R. A., Bullock, L., Hatchell, C. A., & Yoffe, M. (2016). Internal medicine review core curriculum, 2017-2018. CO Springs, CO: MedStudy.
Therapeutic Guidelines. Melbourne: Therapeutic Guidelines Limited. https://www.tg.org.au [Accessed 2021].