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Thyrotoxicosis presenting as acute bulbar palsy
Betsy Mathew1, Anup J Devasia, Vaggesh Ayyar
1Department of General Medicine, St. Johns Medical Colege and Hospital, Bangalore.
The Journal of the Association of Physicians of India
|July 15, 2011
Summary
Thyrotoxicosis, a thyroid disorder, can rarely cause acute bulbar palsy affecting swallowing and speech. Prompt treatment of hyperthyroidism led to rapid symptom recovery in a patient with Graves
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Hyperthyroidism commonly causes myopathy, primarily affecting limb muscles.
- Acute bulbar palsy, without skeletal muscle involvement, is an uncommon presentation of thyrotoxicosis.
Observation:
- A 52-year-old man presented with severe dysphagia, dysphonia, and aspiration.
- Diagnostic workup identified underlying Graves' thyrotoxicosis as the cause.
Findings:
- The patient's bulbar symptoms resolved dramatically within six weeks of initiating hyperthyroid treatment.
- This highlights a rare neurological manifestation of thyrotoxicosis.
Implications:
- Thyrotoxicosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of unexplained dysphagia.
- Early recognition and management of hyperthyroidism can lead to significant neurological recovery.
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