A RARE CASE REPORT ON MYXOEDEMA COMA

Abstract

Myxoedema coma is a sporadic life-threatening complication of severe hypothyroidism with high mortality. Altered mental status and hypothermia are the main symptoms of myxoedema coma. Apart from that, hypoxia, bradycardia, hypotension, anemia, and hyponatremia would be present. Few patients present comatose with severe myxoedema. Presenting coma may mislead the diagnosis of this condition. A female patient presented with fever, breathlessness, and disorientation was admitted. First diagnosed to have electrolyte imbalance and treatment was started accordingly. The patient did not show much of an improvement, and it took a day to identify the presence of severe hypothyroidism. Treating hypothyroidism resulted in an advance in the patient condition. Patients’ previous history of hypothyroidism was not informed during admission. It is always tough to diagnose myxoedema coma when the patients’ previous history of hypothyroidism is unknown. Hence, it is still essential to have hypothyroidism in mind while treating patients with comatose. This case has been reported to alert physicians in diagnosing myxoedema coma patients and to proceed with the treatment at the earliest.