Korean Circ J.  1971 Jun;1(1):79-85. 10.4070/kcj.1971.1.1.79.

A Case of Myxedema with Pericardial Effusion

• Park JR
• Paik CM
• Kim JK
• Kim IS
• Suh CY

• KMID: 1659317
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4070/kcj.1971.1.1.79

Abstract

Since Zondek (1918) described myxedema heart, many clinical, pathological, ECG, X-ray, and biological studies of myxedema heart have been reported and it has been known that hypothyroidism affects the heart according to its degree of severity. Authors experienced a case of myxedema with pericardial effusion in a 49-year-old man who had been suffered from facial edema, hoarseness, slow speech and general weakness for 3 years. On admission, he had dry scaly coarse yellow-colored skin of the hands, puffy face with eye lid edema, cardiac enlargement with pericardial effusion, and delayed and slow deep tendon reflex. X-ray film and fluoroscopy and pericardiocentesis confirmed pericardial effusion. ECG showed sinus bradycardia and low voltage in limb leads. Serum cholesterol also elevated (253 mg/dl). Thyroid function tests (B.M.R., T-4 test, thyroid uptake and scanning) disclosed marked hypothyroid state. Treatment consist of thyroid extract with progressive increased dosage resulting in remarkable improvement of subjective, objective and laboratory findings of pericardial effusion and myxedema. About 1 month later, he could maintain near normal life activity without difficulty.

MeSH Terms

Bradycardia
Cholesterol
Edema
Edema, Cardiac
Electrocardiography
Extremities
Fluoroscopy
Hand
Heart
Hoarseness
Humans
Hypothyroidism
Middle Aged
Myxedema*
Pericardial Effusion*
Pericardiocentesis
Reflex, Stretch
Skin
Thyroid Function Tests
Thyroid Gland
X-Ray Film
Cholesterol