Myxedema

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

**Myxoedema**
*Classification & external resources*
ICD-10	E 00. — E 03.
ICD-9	244
DiseasesDB	6558
MedlinePlus	000353
eMedicine	med/1581 derm/347
MeSH	C19.874.482.638

Myxedema (British myxoedema) is a skin and tissue disorder usually due to severe prolonged hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism can be caused by Hashimoto's thyroiditis, surgical removal of the thyroid, and rarer conditions. Partial forms of myxedema, especially of the lower legs (called pretibial myxedema), occasionally occur in adults with Graves' disease or Hashimoto's thyroiditis without severe hypothyroidism.

1 Symptoms
2 Causes
3 Treatment
4 See also
5 External links

[edit] Symptoms

Myxedema usually presents itself with some of the following symptoms:

Skin thickening
Coarse skin
Change in facial appearance
Thickening nose
Swollen lips
Puffiness around the eyes
Jelly-like infiltrations in subcutaneous tissues
Slow speech
Mental dullness
Lethargy
Mental problems
Dry skin
Yellow skin
Swollen subcutaneous tissue
Weight gain
Constipation
Thinning hair
Brittle hair
Bald patches
Muscle pains
Deafness
Hearing impairment
Carpal tunnel syndrome

[edit] Causes

Myxedema stemming from both hyperthyroid and hypothyroid conditions, results from the accumulation of increased amounts of hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulfate in the dermis in both lesional and normal skin. The mechanism that causes myxedema is still not yet understood, although animal model studies suggest that thyroid hormones affect the synthesis and catabolism of mucopolysaccharides and collagen by dermal fibroblasts. The fibroblasts in the orbital and pretibial dermis share antigenic sites that underlie the autoimmune process that causes Grave's disease. This cross-reaction may contribute to the development of myxedema long after normal levels of thyroid hormones have been restored by treatment.

[edit] Treatment

Treatment for myxedema is difficult. Systemic or intralesional glucocorticoids, topical glucocorticoids under occlusion or high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin have been reported to offer some relief to patients. Treatment should follow correction of the original hyperthyroidism/hypothyroidism. Place client in warm room.