Endocrine emergencies: myxedema coma

Urgencias endocrinológicas: coma mixedematoso

Herein we present an endocrine emergency, myxedema coma, which is a form of decompensated hypothyroidism, whose mortality may be as high as 52% as evidenced in some case series. It may be triggered by multiple factors and has varied clinical presentations for it affects diverse organ systems. We present the case of a 42-year-old female who presented to the emergency department of Hospital de San José in Bogotá with clinical suspicion of decompensated heart failure upon admission, however, her response was poor to the treatment she received. Extension studies were performed which showed low thyroid function. At this point the patient was diagnosed with myxedema coma, and was started on high doses of oral levothyroxine, with which she evolved favorably and was discharged a few days later.

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