Peripheral neuropathy in hypothyroidism--an association with spurious polycythaemia (Gaisbock's syndrome)

The neurological complications of hypothyroidism, including dementia, cerebellar ataxia, myopathy and entrapment neuropathy, are well recorded, but peripheral neuropathy has rarely been documented (Swanson et al. 1981). In this paper two patients are described who developed myxoedema and peripheral neuropathy. The first patient had a very rapid onset of myxoedema, and during observation he developed spurious polycythaemia (Gaisbock's syndrome) over a period of nine days.