Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsMyxedema Coma SymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentPrognosis
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Myxedema Coma Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prognosis
Myxedema comais an extreme complication ofhypothyroidism(low thyroid hormone). It’s rare and potentially fatal. The condition is also called myxedema crisis.Myxedema is also the name of a skin condition linked toGraves disease(an autoimmune disorder that causes hyperthyroidism). It causes swelling and thickened skin, especially in your lower legs. Other symptoms may be dark patches or yellowed skin.Myxedema coma is most common when severe hypothyroidism has gone untreated for a long time. It rarely leads to acoma. Instead, it causes lethargy due to slowed function of multiple systems.kali9 / Getty ImagesMyxedema Coma SymptomsMyxedema coma has three major symptoms:Altered mental status: You may be lethargic, sleep a lot, and have episodes of reduced consciousness for a few months, then eventually enter a coma.Defective temperature regulation (hypothermia): You lose the ability to maintain your body temperature. Exposure to the cold can make your body temperature drop sharply.Triggering event: It takes ongoing hypothyroidism plus another event to trigger this crisis. This trigger may be cold exposure,infection, use of certain drugs, trauma,stroke,heart failure, or bleeding in your digestive tract.CausesYour thyroid gland makes hormones that regulate homeostasis. That’s the way your body controls automatic things liketemperature, digestion, and heart rate.When thyroid hormones are low, your body adapts and finds other ways to maintain homeostasis. But then, a triggering event strains the body’s resources, and as a result:Your body can’t keep up the adaptations.Your core temperature drops.Multiple functions in your body slow down.How Your Thyroid Gland WorksCauses of HypothyroidismLots of things can cause low thyroid levels:Hashimoto’s disease(an autoimmune thyroid condition)Radiation treatmentsfor cancerSome immune system medicationsMedications, includinglithiumandPacerone (amiodarone)PregnancyPartial or completethyroid removal(thyroidectomy)Your levels can also drop if you go off ofthyroid medication. Don’t stop taking your medication without talking to your doctor.Risk FactorsMyxedema coma is most common in the winter. You’re at higher risk if:You’re femaleYou’re over 60 years oldYou have a history of hypothyroidismYou’ve had neck surgery orradioactive iodine treatmentDiagnosisDoctors identify myxedema coma in several ways. A physical exam may show:Low body temperatureSlow breathingLow blood pressureSlow heart rateDelayed reflexesCoarse, dry skinEnlarged tongueLab tests may reveal:AnemiaLow blood sugarLow sodiumLow cortisol (the stress hormone)High cholesterolHigh creatine kinaseLow thyroid hormoneHigh thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)What Thyroid Function Tests MeanTreatmentFast treatment of myxedema coma is crucial. Treatments must address each problem. They may include:Thyroid hormone supplementsA ventilatorBlankets for warming (direct heat is discouraged)Fluid restriction to increase sodium levelsAdding blood to increase blood pressureGlucose (sugar) for low blood sugarTreatment of triggering event, such as antibiotics for infectionSteroid hormone replacementYou may need other treatments, depending on your symptoms and lab test results.PrognosisThe prognosis, or outlook, for someone with myxedema coma is poor unless the condition is promptly recognized and treated. The lower the body temperature gets, the more likely the person will die.SummaryMyxedema coma results from long-term, untreated hypothyroidism plus a triggering event that strains the body’s resources. This causes multiple systems and organs to slow down, leading to lethargy, excessive sleep, and possibly loss of consciousness. The best way to prevent myxedema coma is to have your thyroid condition diagnosed and treated early.A Word From VerywellMyxedema coma is a potentially life-threatening complication of hypothyroidism. It’s more likely to happen if your thyroid condition is not managed. If you have signs of hypothyroidism, talk to your doctor about your concerns. Getting diagnosed and treated early can significantly reduce your risk of having myxedema coma. If you or someone you know is having symptoms that could point to myxedema coma, get medical help immediately. The sooner you act, the better the chance of recovery.
Myxedema comais an extreme complication ofhypothyroidism(low thyroid hormone). It’s rare and potentially fatal. The condition is also called myxedema crisis.
Myxedema is also the name of a skin condition linked toGraves disease(an autoimmune disorder that causes hyperthyroidism). It causes swelling and thickened skin, especially in your lower legs. Other symptoms may be dark patches or yellowed skin.
Myxedema coma is most common when severe hypothyroidism has gone untreated for a long time. It rarely leads to acoma. Instead, it causes lethargy due to slowed function of multiple systems.
kali9 / Getty Images
Myxedema coma has three major symptoms:
Your thyroid gland makes hormones that regulate homeostasis. That’s the way your body controls automatic things liketemperature, digestion, and heart rate.
When thyroid hormones are low, your body adapts and finds other ways to maintain homeostasis. But then, a triggering event strains the body’s resources, and as a result:
How Your Thyroid Gland Works
Causes of Hypothyroidism
Lots of things can cause low thyroid levels:
Your levels can also drop if you go off ofthyroid medication. Don’t stop taking your medication without talking to your doctor.
Risk Factors
Myxedema coma is most common in the winter. You’re at higher risk if:
Doctors identify myxedema coma in several ways. A physical exam may show:
Lab tests may reveal:
What Thyroid Function Tests Mean
Fast treatment of myxedema coma is crucial. Treatments must address each problem. They may include:
You may need other treatments, depending on your symptoms and lab test results.
The prognosis, or outlook, for someone with myxedema coma is poor unless the condition is promptly recognized and treated. The lower the body temperature gets, the more likely the person will die.
Summary
Myxedema coma results from long-term, untreated hypothyroidism plus a triggering event that strains the body’s resources. This causes multiple systems and organs to slow down, leading to lethargy, excessive sleep, and possibly loss of consciousness. The best way to prevent myxedema coma is to have your thyroid condition diagnosed and treated early.
A Word From Verywell
Myxedema coma is a potentially life-threatening complication of hypothyroidism. It’s more likely to happen if your thyroid condition is not managed. If you have signs of hypothyroidism, talk to your doctor about your concerns. Getting diagnosed and treated early can significantly reduce your risk of having myxedema coma. If you or someone you know is having symptoms that could point to myxedema coma, get medical help immediately. The sooner you act, the better the chance of recovery.
1 SourceVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Nguyen VB, Nguyen VVH, Van Le C, Linh PNT, Thi XN, Vo TT.Pretibial myxedema in Grave’s disease: a case report and treatment review of the literature.Clin Case Rep. 2024;12(2):e8478. doi:10.1002/ccr3.8478Additional ReadingNational Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine: Endotext.Myxedema coma. Updated April 25, 2018.
1 Source
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Nguyen VB, Nguyen VVH, Van Le C, Linh PNT, Thi XN, Vo TT.Pretibial myxedema in Grave’s disease: a case report and treatment review of the literature.Clin Case Rep. 2024;12(2):e8478. doi:10.1002/ccr3.8478Additional ReadingNational Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine: Endotext.Myxedema coma. Updated April 25, 2018.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Nguyen VB, Nguyen VVH, Van Le C, Linh PNT, Thi XN, Vo TT.Pretibial myxedema in Grave’s disease: a case report and treatment review of the literature.Clin Case Rep. 2024;12(2):e8478. doi:10.1002/ccr3.8478
National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine: Endotext.Myxedema coma. Updated April 25, 2018.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
