Novel teprotumumab treatment of severe thyroid dermopathy; ototoxicity as an adverse side effect

Pretibial myxedema, more generally thyroid dermopathy, results from mucopolysaccharide accumulation in the dermis, typically between the knee and dorsal foot. Thyroid dermopathy presents in Graves disease, but can occur in Hashimoto thyroiditis, primary hypothyroidism, and euthyroid patients. Treatment of thyroid eye disease with teprotumumab is established in the literature, with few case reports also showing improvement in pretibial myxedema. Reported is a 76-year-old man with thyroid eye disease and pretibial myxedema treated with teprotumumab; improvement was demonstrated in both conditions. He developed "muffled" hearing as an adverse effect, a complication not widely published in the dermatology literature. At 18 months post-treatment, his symptoms are stable without recurrence, but hypoacusis persists. Given the long-term efficacy and side-effects, dermatologists should recognize the potential benefits and risks of using teprotumumab for thyroid dermopathy. A baseline audiogram may be considered prior to therapy. Additionally, longitudinal data is needed to document the benefits and risks of this novel therapy.