Severe Paresthesia as a Rare Presenting Symptom of Subacute Thyroiditis / General Medicine

ABSTRACT

In this case report, we describe a male patient with subacute thyroiditis with severe paresthesia in a glove-and-stocking type distribution and thyroid gland tenderness but with minimal symptoms of hyperthyroidism. His paresthesia improved and then disappeared within several days after low dose oral prednisolone was initiated. As possible mechanisms for his severe paresthesia, we propose the following 1) thyrotoxic effect on the peripheral nerves, and 2) generalized inflammatory effect on the peripheral nerves akin to that in the thyroid gland. Subacute thyroiditis may need to be considered as one of differential diagnoses for severe paresthesia.