Abstract
Hypothyroidism is a common condition presenting with many common complaints. This can pose a challenge to emergency physicians in diagnosing the underlying etiology of such vague complaints. Fortunately, testing for thyroid disease is now quicker and more sensitive than in the past with the newer generation TSH assays. This may prove especially helpful in the diagnosis of critically ill patients who are suspected of being in myxedema coma, a serious condition that arises when the body is in a decompensated hypothyroid state from a precipitating event. Even with the speed of the serum TSH assay, early treatment of suspected myxedema coma with thyroid hormone replacement (before TSH results) is necessary to avoid higher patient mortality. To do this, the emergency physician must maintain a high degree of clinical suspicion for thyroid disease in the ED.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 649-667 |
| Number of pages | 19 |
| Journal | Emergency Medicine Clinics of North America |
| Volume | 23 |
| Issue number | 3 SPEC. ISS. |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jan 1 2005 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Emergency Medicine
Cite this
Hypothyroidism : Mimicker of common complaints. / Tews, Matthew C; Shah, Sid M.; Gossain, Ved V.
In: Emergency Medicine Clinics of North America, Vol. 23, No. 3 SPEC. ISS., 01.01.2005, p. 649-667.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Hypothyroidism
T2 - Mimicker of common complaints
AU - Tews, Matthew C
AU - Shah, Sid M.
AU - Gossain, Ved V.
PY - 2005/1/1
Y1 - 2005/1/1
N2 - Hypothyroidism is a common condition presenting with many common complaints. This can pose a challenge to emergency physicians in diagnosing the underlying etiology of such vague complaints. Fortunately, testing for thyroid disease is now quicker and more sensitive than in the past with the newer generation TSH assays. This may prove especially helpful in the diagnosis of critically ill patients who are suspected of being in myxedema coma, a serious condition that arises when the body is in a decompensated hypothyroid state from a precipitating event. Even with the speed of the serum TSH assay, early treatment of suspected myxedema coma with thyroid hormone replacement (before TSH results) is necessary to avoid higher patient mortality. To do this, the emergency physician must maintain a high degree of clinical suspicion for thyroid disease in the ED.
AB - Hypothyroidism is a common condition presenting with many common complaints. This can pose a challenge to emergency physicians in diagnosing the underlying etiology of such vague complaints. Fortunately, testing for thyroid disease is now quicker and more sensitive than in the past with the newer generation TSH assays. This may prove especially helpful in the diagnosis of critically ill patients who are suspected of being in myxedema coma, a serious condition that arises when the body is in a decompensated hypothyroid state from a precipitating event. Even with the speed of the serum TSH assay, early treatment of suspected myxedema coma with thyroid hormone replacement (before TSH results) is necessary to avoid higher patient mortality. To do this, the emergency physician must maintain a high degree of clinical suspicion for thyroid disease in the ED.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=20744433080&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=20744433080&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.emc.2005.03.013
DO - 10.1016/j.emc.2005.03.013
M3 - Review article
C2 - 15982539
AN - SCOPUS:20744433080
VL - 23
SP - 649
EP - 667
JO - Emergency Medicine Clinics of North America
JF - Emergency Medicine Clinics of North America
SN - 0733-8627
IS - 3 SPEC. ISS.
ER -