Initial treatment of myxedema coma using oral levothyroxine: a case report from Tanzania

Summary

Myxedema coma is a severe complication of hypothyroidism, commonly affecting women over 60 years of age, causing slow, progressive multi-organ dysfunction, and mental deterioration. Due to improved diagnostics and treatment of hypothyroidism, myxedema coma has become uncommon. However, it is hardly reported in resource-limited settings. We present an elderly female with a history of total thyroidectomy due to multi-nodular goiter. She presented with features of heart failure, excessive weight gain, and cold sensation. Although the patient was on levothyroxine replacement therapy, her laboratory tests were suggestive of overt primary hypothyroidism. During the course of her hospitalization, she developed subcutaneous bleeding with frank hematuria. This led to an altered mental state and hypotension that were suggestive of myxedema coma. Stroke and pulmonary embolism were ruled out as potential differential diagnoses of her current state. She was treated with a high dose of oral levothyroxine followed by 150 μg of oral levothyroxine daily, which resulted in a favorable outcome despite being a fatal emergency. She was also treated with intravenous hydrocortisone and furosemide. Oral thyroid hormone replacement may be an effective option in those resource-limited settings where intravenous thyroid hormone replacement is not available. However, early diagnosis and treatment with an adequate dose of thyroid hormones are crucial to achieve a favorable outcome.

Learning points

Myxedema coma is an uncommon complication of hypothyroidism with a fatal outcome. The diagnosis of myxedema coma is based on clinical suspicion, especially in patients with hypothyroidism and in the presence of precipitating factors. Although diagnostic and scoring criteria based on clinical, laboratory, and imaging features have been proposed, no consensus has been reached. This article shows an alternative treatment option for myxedema coma using oral levothyroxine, which led to a favorable outcome.

Pseudo-pheochromocytoma due to obstructive sleep apnea: a case report

SUMMARY

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a condition of intermittent nocturnal upper airway obstruction. OSA increases sympathetic drive which may result in clinical and biochemical features suggestive of pheochromocytoma. We present the case of a 65-year-old male with a 2.9-cm left adrenal incidentaloma on CT, hypertension, symptoms of headache, anxiety and diaphoresis, and persistently elevated 24-h urine norepinephrine (initially 818 nmol/day (89-470)) and normetanephrine (initially 11.2 µmol/day (0.6-2.7)). He was started on prazosin and underwent left adrenalectomy. Pathology revealed an adrenal corticoadenoma with no evidence of pheochromocytoma. Over the next 2 years, urine norepinephrine and normetanephrine remained significantly elevated with no MIBG avid disease. Years later, he was diagnosed with severe OSA and treated with continuous positive airway pressure. Urine testing done once OSA was well controlled revealed complete normalization of urine norepinephrine and normetanephrine with substantial symptom improvement. It was concluded that the patient never had a pheochromocytoma but rather an adrenal adenoma with biochemistry and symptoms suggestive of pheochromocytoma due to untreated severe OSA. Pseudo-pheochromocytoma is a rare presentation of OSA and should be considered on the differential of elevated urine catecholamines and metanephrines in the right clinical setting.

LEARNING POINTS

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common condition among adults. OSA may rarely present as pseudo-pheochromocytoma with symptoms of pallor, palpitations, perspiration, headache, or anxiety. OSA should be considered on the differential of elevated urine catecholamines and metanephrines, especially in patients with negative metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) scan results.

Status epilepticus and diabetes ketoacidosis: uncommon clinical presentations of acromegaly

SUMMARY

Acromegaly is a rare disease caused by hypersecretion of the growth hormone (GH). Most cases are caused by either pituitary microadenoma or macroadenoma. The GH producing tumors present with clinical manifestations of acromegaly due to excessive GH secretion or symptoms resulting from mass effects of the enlarging tumor. The physical changes are usually slow and, therefore, recognition of the disease is delayed. These adenomas are never malignant but can have significant morbidity and mortality. A subgroup of patients with acromegaly present with severe hyperglycemia resulting in diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) which requires insulin. Rarely are pituitary tumors responsible for generalized convulsions except when they are too large. We hereby present two cases, the first is that of a 26-year-old female who presented with new onset status epilepticus, DKA with a 1-year history of diabetes mellitus (DM). On examination, she had clinical features of acromegaly. The second case is that of a 34-year-old female who presented with new onset status epilepticus, hyperglycemia with a history of recently diagnosed DM, and features of gigantism. In both cases, their diagnosis was confirmed by elevated serum GH and later by elevated insulin-like growth factor type 1 levels, and CT of the head demonstrating large pituitary macroadenoma. The importance of clinical history and examination, as well as investigations is vital in the recognition of acromegaly. The prognosis of acromegalic patients depends on early clinical recognition and tumor size reduction by either medical or surgical therapy.

LEARNING POINTS

Conditions such as status epilepticus and DKA may be clinical presentations in patients presenting with acromegaly. Seizures are rare in people with pituitary adenoma and typically occur when the tumor invades the suprasellar area due to mass effect on the brain. This article shows how best we were able to manage the acromegaly complications in a low resource setting. Hyperprolactinemia in acromegaly may be due to disruption of the normal dopaminergic inhibition of prolactin secretion due to mass effect of the macroadenoma, and around 25% of GH-secreting adenomas co-secrete prolactin.