Autoimmune polyglandular syndrome presenting with jaundice and thrombocytopenia.

OBJECTIVE: To report an uncommon presentation of a rare case of autoimmune polyglandular syndrome type IIIb in an elderly woman. CLINICAL PRESENTATION AND INTERVENTION: A 62-year-old woman presented with anaemic symptoms and jaundice. Blood tests showed macrocytic anaemia due to vitamin B12 deficiency with Coombs negative haemolysis. A thyroid function test was consistent with hypothyroidism. Autoimmune antibody assays were positive for anti-parietal cell, anti-intrinsic factor and anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies. A final diagnosis of autoimmune thyroiditis with pernicious anaemia, which constituted autoimmune polyglandular syndrome type IIIb, was made and the patient was treated with L-thyroxine, vitamin B12 injection and a blood transfusion. She was discharged uneventfully after a week of hospitalization. CONCLUSION: This case showed that the presence of one autoimmune endocrine disease should prompt clinicians to look for other coexisting autoimmune diseases which may be asymptomatic despite positive autoantibodies.

A case of persistent hyponatraemia due to reset osmostat.

We report a case of a 65 year old Malay lady with long-standing diabetes mellitus, who presented to our institution with a one month history of worsening neck pain and progressive upper and lower limb weakness. She was stable despite severe hyponatraemia which was initially treated as syndrome of inappropriate anti-diuretic hormone (SIADH). This was consistent with her underlying illness which was concluded as cervical tuberculosis (TB) with spinal cord compression. She underwent decompression and bone grafting. Despite continuous treatment her serum sodium levels remained low. There were no other problems with her adrenals or thyroid. A water loading and hypertonic saline perfusion test was performed and supported the diagnosis of reset osmostat. Her serum sodium remained below the normal range and she was discharged well.