Case Report: Myxedema Coma Caused by Immunoglobulin A Vasculitis in a Patient With Severe Hypothyroidism

Autor: Hiroshi Ito, Kenzo Fukuda, Kenji Ashida, Ayako Nagayama, Tomoki Sako, Kouichiro Mizuochi, Masaharu Kabashima, Satoko Yoshinobu, Shimpei Iwata, Nao Hasuzawa, Sumika Hayashi, Tomoyuki Akashi, Masatoshi Nomura
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2022
Předmět:
Zdroj: Frontiers in Immunology, Vol 13 (2022)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 1664-3224
37597914
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.838739
Popis: Myxedema coma is a critical disorder with high mortality rates. Disruption of the compensatory mechanism for severe and long-term hypothyroidism by various causes leads to critical conditions, including hypothermia, respiratory failure, circulatory failure, and central nervous system dysfunction. Infectious diseases, stroke, myocardial infarction, sedative drugs, and cold exposure are considered the main triggers for myxedema coma. A 59-year-old Japanese woman presented with bilateral painful purpura on her lower legs. She was diagnosed with coexisting immunoglobulin A (IgA) vasculitis and severe IgA vasculitis with nephritis and was consequently treated with intravenous methylprednisolone (125 mg/day). However, she rapidly developed multiple organ failure due to the exacerbation of severe hypothyroidism, i.e., myxedema. Her condition improved significantly following oral administration of prednisolone along with thyroxine. There was a delayed increase in the serum free triiodothyronine level, while the serum free thyroxine level was quickly restored to normal. Rapid deterioration of the patient’s condition after admission led us to diagnose her as having myxedema coma triggered by IgA vasculitis. Hence, clinicians should be aware of the risks of dynamic exacerbations in patients with hypothyroidism. Furthermore, our study suggested that combination therapy with thyroxine and liothyronine might prove effective for patients with myxedema coma, especially for those who require high-dose glucocorticoid administration.
Databáze: Directory of Open Access Journals