Mechanisms of myxedema formation

Symptomatic ascites in a patient with hypothyroidism of short duration

Symptomatic ascites as a presenting symptom of hypothyroidism is quite rare. In most of the case reports, patients with ascites requiring therapeutic abdominal paracentesis have long-standing hypothyroidism. We present a case of symptomatic ascites in a subject with hypothyroidism following radioiodine therapy for Graves disease. A 70-year-old African-American man presented with increasing weakness, shortness of breath, weight gain, constipation, and abdominal distention. Past history was significant for coronary artery disease, diabetes, hypertension and history of radioiodine therapy for Graves disease 9 months prior to the presentation. He was taking levothyroxine at 50 microg per day for 3 months prior to the presentation. Physical examination findings were significant for puffiness around the eyes, decreased breath sounds at the lung bases, and distended abdomen with free fluid, hung-up reflexes, and cold extremities. The thyroid-stimulating hormone level at the time was 64 with a free T4 less than 0.4 ng/dL. Analysis of the ascitic fluid revealed an exudative effusion with a serum to ascitic fluid albumin gradient of 1.2. The patient required therapeutic abdominal paracentesis twice, with 4 L each time, to relieve the symptoms. Work-up to rule out other causes did not reveal any other relevant abnormality. After initiation of thyroid hormone replacement, the patient responded very well and the ascites resolved within 2 months. We conclude that ascites associated with hypothyroidism is rare but must be recognized early, since thyroid replacement is the definitive therapy.

Myxedema ascites: case report and literature review

Myxedema ascites caused by hypothyroidism is rare, so its diagnosis is often delayed and patients frequently receive unnecessary procedures such as liver biopsies and exploratory laparotomies. We report a 71-yr-old man with clinical ascites that was the first manifestation of hypothyroidism, and which resolved completely in response to thyroid hormone replacement therapy. To our knowledge, this is the first report of myxedema ascites in Korea. A review of the literature revealed 51 well-documented cases of myxedema ascites. Analyses of ascites from patients in this condition usually show high protein (>2.5 g/dL) and low white blood cell counts, with a high proportion of lymphocytes. A consistent feature is the good response to thyroid hormone replacement therapy, which has always led to resolution of the ascites. Myxedema ascites is thus rare but easy to treat; it should be borne in mind, especially if the ascites fluid has a high protein content.

Myxedema ascites with elevated serum CA 125 concentration

We report a case of myxedema ascites and markedly elevated serum CA 125 concentration. The cause of ascites and elevated tumor markers in hypothyroidism remains unknown. Diagnosis was characterized by no evidence of malignancy seen by transvaginal ultrasonography or abdominal computed tomography and ascites resolution with serum CA 125 normalization after adequate hormonal treatment. Our data suggest that hypothyroidism should be considered in patients with ascites and elevated serum CA 125.