Insuficiencia respiratoria global como forma de presentación de un hipotiroidismo: Comunicación de un caso / Global respiratory failure as the presentation form of hypothyroidism: Report of one case

We report a 36 years male, admitted to the hospital for progressive respiratory failure. Chest X ray and CT scan were normal. On admission, a severe bradycardia and slow intellectual activity were noted. Serum thyroid function tests showed a TSH over 150 æU/ml and T3 of 75 ng/ml. Thyroid substitution therapy was associated with a progressive improvement of respiratory function. Diaphragmatic dysfunction, central hypoventilation, airway obstruction, sleep apnea and pleural effusion have been previously reported in patients with hypothyroidism. Therefore, we recommend to measure TSH in patients with unexplained respiratory failure (Rev Méd Chile 2004; 132: 81-4).