Myxedema Ascites: A Rare Presentation of Uncontrolled Hypothyroidism

[helvella]

As today we have had a poster talking about ascites - this paper I fell across seemed topical.

Myxedema Ascites: A Rare Presentation of Uncontrolled Hypothyroidism

Sameen Khalid , FNU Asad-Ur-Rahman , Aamer Abbass , Dwayne Gordon , Khalid Abusaada

Published: December 05, 2016 (see history)

DOI: 10.7759/cureus.912

Cite this article as: Khalid S, Asad-ur-rahman F, Abbass A, et al. (December 05, 2016) Myxedema Ascites: A Rare Presentation of Uncontrolled Hypothyroidism. Cureus 8(12): e912. doi:10.7759/cureus.912

Abstract

Less than four percent of patients with hypothyroidism develop ascites. Ascites as the presenting feature of hypothyroidism is uncommon, hence diagnosis is often delayed. Once it is diagnosed, treatment of hypothyroidism leads to quick clinical improvement in ascites. We report a case of a female patient who presented with ascites secondary to severe hypothyroidism and discuss the diagnostic characteristics of the ascitic fluid in myxedema ascites on the basis of literature review.

cureus.com/articles/5580-my...

[Hidden]

Don't care to have that thank you very much! ☹️

[TSH110]

So that might explain why my spleen used to feel so uncomfortable like it was bulging out of my ribs.

[dwsmith]

I remember it well very uncomfortable, Drs could offer no explanation other than, yes it's fluid!

[MariLiz]

I think I have a build up of fluid in my abdomen, no one in the medical profession appears to be interested. I am on Levothyroxine, should I try to buy NDT myself to see if it helps?