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Thyroiditis of Hashimoto and myotonia
Aouatef El-Midaoui1, Said A Boujraf, Mohammed F Belahsen
1Department of Neurology, Laboratory of Biophysicsand Clinical MRI Methods, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Fez, Fez, Morocco.
Neurosciences (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia)
|October 20, 2010
Summary
Hypothyroidism can cause neuromuscular issues, and myotonia may signal this condition. Prompt thyroid hormone screening is vital for patients with neuromuscular symptoms.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Neurology
- Internal Medicine
Background:
- Hypothyroidism is often linked to neuromuscular disorders, though myotonia is an uncommon presenting symptom.
- Hashimoto's thyroiditis is a prevalent cause of hypothyroidism, affecting 30-80% of patients with myopathy.
Observation:
- A 45-year-old woman presented with progressive myotonia, leading to the diagnosis of hypothyroidism.
- Thyroid function tests confirmed peripheral hypothyroidism with elevated thyroid-stimulating hormone and anti-thyroperoxidase antibodies.
Findings:
- The patient's myotonia resolved following thyroid hormone replacement therapy.
- This case highlights that myotonia can be an early indicator of hypothyroidism.
Implications:
- Systematic thyroid hormone screening is recommended for individuals with unexplained neuromuscular symptoms.
- Early diagnosis and treatment of hypothyroidism can lead to favorable outcomes for associated neuromuscular manifestations.
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