Hypothyroidism: causes, killers, and life-saving treatments

Sarah B Dubbs; Ryan Spangler

doi:10.1016/j.emc.2013.12.003

Hypothyroidism: causes, killers, and life-saving treatments

Emerg Med Clin North Am. 2014 May;32(2):303-17. doi: 10.1016/j.emc.2013.12.003. Epub 2014 Mar 6.

Authors

Sarah B Dubbs¹, Ryan Spangler²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 110 South Paca Street, 6th Floor Suite 200, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA. Electronic address: sdubbs@umem.org.
² Emergency Medicine Residency Program, University of Maryland Medical Center, 110 South Paca Street, 6th Floor Suite 200, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.

PMID: 24766934
DOI: 10.1016/j.emc.2013.12.003

Abstract

Hypothyroidism is a very common, yet often overlooked disease. It can have a myriad of signs and symptoms, and is often nonspecific. Identification requires analysis of thyroid hormones circulating in the bloodstream, and treatment is simply replacement with exogenous hormone, usually levothyroxine (Synthroid). The deadly manifestation of hypothyroidism is myxedema coma. Similarly nonspecific and underrecognized, treatment with exogenous hormone is necessary to decrease the high mortality rate.

Keywords: Coma; Hypothyroidism; Levothyroxine; Myxedema; Thyroid; Thyroid-stimulating hormone.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Emergency Medical Services / methods*
Global Health
Hormone Replacement Therapy / methods*
Humans
Hypothyroidism* / epidemiology
Hypothyroidism* / etiology
Hypothyroidism* / therapy
Incidence
Iodine / deficiency*
Thyroid Hormones / metabolism*

Substances

Thyroid Hormones
Iodine