Myxedema Pharma Case Study

The thyroid gland is responsible for production of two hormones: thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) (1). This patient is presenting with this array of symptoms as a result of a severe form of hypothyroidism called myxedema coma (2). Thyroid hormone affects many tissues in the body, and is responsible for body functions such as metabolism of fat, protein and glucose for energy and heat production (1). Thus, it can be concluded that the patient is experiencing constipation, hypothermia and lethargy as a result of insufficient metabolism. Furthermore, the patient is experiencing an altered mental state, which is present in all patients presenting with myxedema coma, due to decreased oxygen levels and cardiac output (3). This is a result of the body’s response to decompensate after initiating prolonged compensatory mechanisms, such as vasoconstriction and central shunting (1). This accounts for the patient’s bradycardia and hypotension. Furthermore, hypothyroidism has been linked as a cause of anaemia and proved to often be the first symptom (4).
The combination and severity of symptoms associated with …show more content…
Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) is still being released from the hypothalamus to stimulate the release of TSH from the anterior pituitary gland (2). However, due to low levels of T4 and T3 being secreted by the thyroid gland, the negative feedback causes an increase in the production of TSH without an increase in T4 and T3 levels (2). This is reason to conclude that the patient is not presenting with hyperthyroidism, as this condition would show elevated T4 levels. Furthermore, despite some symptoms being similar, such as dry hair and fatigue, many of the symptoms the patient is presenting with, such as bradycardia and hypothermia are the opposite of those present in hyperthyroidism