Background: Myxedema crisis is a rare decompensated hypothyroid clinical condition with high mortality if remains unrecognized.
Case presentation: We report a case of 36-year old male with a 3 week history of difficulty in breathing and facial puffiness. Periorbital edema, very dry skin, and non-pitting edema of legs was noticed on clinical examination. The patient was commenced on oral thyroxine for abnormal thyroid functions but deteriorated over the next few days. A diagnosis of myxedema crisis was made and was treated with a loading dose of oral thyroxine followed by maintenance dose along with intravenous steroids and intravenous antibiotics. Thyroxine dose was adjusted with serial thyroid functions on alternate days to confirm absorption. The patient clinically improved as thyroid functions advanced toward normalization.
Conclusion: Myxedema crisis remains poorly recognized condition due to extremely rare endocrine emergency. Under circumstances where intravenous hormone not available, oral thyroxine with daily or alternate day thyroid hormone level to confirm absorption and to adjust dose is equally effective way of management. Patient must be considered for an adrenal insufficiency unless proven otherwise.
Key words: Case report, myxoedema crisis, thyroxine, steroids, antibiotics, adrenal insufficiency.
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