ABSTRACT
Myxedema is the cause of ascites in less than 1% of new-onset ascites cases, where as only 4% of patients with hypothyroidism present ascites. When ascites is the first manifestation of thyroid insufficiency, there is usually a delay in diagnosis. We report here a case of myxedema ascites occurring in a patient with alcoholic cirrhosis, that was first thought to be the cause of the ascites, and review the features of 48 cases previously reported. Some clinic and analytical findings that have been commonly reported, are the long duration of the ascites before diagnosis, the prompt response (with resolution of ascites) to thyroid replacement treatment, a high total protein concentration in ascites fluid, white moderate white blood cell counts and a lymphocyte predominance. Serum-ascites albumin gradient has been postulated to be high in myxedema ascites, but we believe this has been studied in too few cases thus far, to be conclusive.
Subject(s)
Ascites/etiology , Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic/complications , Myxedema/complications , Ascites/drug therapy , Hormone Replacement Therapy/methods , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Myxedema/diagnosis , Myxedema/drug therapy , Thyroxine/therapeutic useABSTRACT
Myxedema is the cause of ascites in less than 1 per cent of new-onset ascites cases, where as only 4 per cent of patients with hypothyroidism present ascites. When ascites is the first manifestation of thyroid insufficiency, there is usually a delay in diagnosis. We report here a case of myxedema ascites occuring in a patient with alcoholic cirrhosis, that was first thought to be the cause of the ascites, and review the features of 48 cases previously reported. Some clinic and analytical findings that have been commonly reported, are the prompt response (with resolution of ascites) to thyroid replacement treatment, a high total protein concentration in ascitec fluid, white moderate white blood cell counts and a lymphocyte predominance. Serum-ascites albumin gradient has been postulated to be high in myxedema ascites, but we believe this has been studied in too few cases thus far, to be conclusive. (Au)
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Ascites/etiology , Myxedema/complications , Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic/complications , Ascites/drug therapy , Myxedema/drug therapy , Myxedema/diagnosis , Hormone Replacement Therapy/methods , Thyroxine/therapeutic useABSTRACT
Myxedema is the cause of ascites in less than 1
of new-onset ascites cases, where as only 4
of patients with hypothyroidism present ascites. When ascites is the first manifestation of thyroid insufficiency, there is usually a delay in diagnosis. We report here a case of myxedema ascites occurring in a patient with alcoholic cirrhosis, that was first thought to be the cause of the ascites, and review the features of 48 cases previously reported. Some clinic and analytical findings that have been commonly reported, are the long duration of the ascites before diagnosis, the prompt response (with resolution of ascites) to thyroid replacement treatment, a high total protein concentration in ascites fluid, white moderate white blood cell counts and a lymphocyte predominance. Serum-ascites albumin gradient has been postulated to be high in myxedema ascites, but we believe this has been studied in too few cases thus far, to be conclusive.
ABSTRACT
Myxedema is the cause of ascites in less than 1 per cent of new-onset ascites cases, where as only 4 per cent of patients with hypothyroidism present ascites. When ascites is the first manifestation of thyroid insufficiency, there is usually a delay in diagnosis. We report here a case of myxedema ascites occuring in a patient with alcoholic cirrhosis, that was first thought to be the cause of the ascites, and review the features of 48 cases previously reported. Some clinic and analytical findings that have been commonly reported, are the prompt response (with resolution of ascites) to thyroid replacement treatment, a high total protein concentration in ascitec fluid, white moderate white blood cell counts and a lymphocyte predominance. Serum-ascites albumin gradient has been postulated to be high in myxedema ascites, but we believe this has been studied in too few cases thus far, to be conclusive.
