Myxedema
613896
213369311
2008-05-19T00:57:03Z
75.72.167.199
/* Causes */
{{Infobox_Disease |
Name = Myxoedema |
Image = |
Caption = |
ICD10 = {{ICD10|E|03|9|e|00}} |
ICD9 = {{ICD9|244.9}} |
DiseasesDB = 6558 |
ICDO = |
OMIM = |
MedlinePlus = 000353 |
eMedicineSubj = med |
eMedicineTopic = 1581 |
eMedicine_mult = {{eMedicine2|derm|347}} |
MeshID = D009230 |
}}
'''Myxedema''' (British English: '''myxoedema''') is a skin and tissue disorder usually due to severe prolonged '''[[hypothyroidism]]'''. Hypothyroidism can be caused by atrophic disease, [[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]], a cause of hyperthyroidism; or also Hashimoto's thyroiditis without severe hypothyroidism.
==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]]
==Causes==
Myxedema, stemming from both the [[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 [[Orbit (anatomy)|orbital]] and [[pretibial]] [[dermis]] share [[antigenic]] sites that underlie the [[autoimmune]] process that causes [[Graves' disease]]. This cross-reaction may contribute to the development of myxedema long after normal levels of thyroid hormones have been restored by treatment.
==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.
==See also==
Severe hypothyroidism in a child is called [[Cretinism]].
{{Endocrine pathology}}
[[Category:Diseases]]
[[es:Mixedema]]
[[fr:Myxœdème]]
[[pt:Mixedema]]