[Progressive external ophthalmoplegia and Hashimoto's thyroiditis]

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Neurology
• Genetics

Background:

• Progressive external ophthalmoplegia (PEO) is a rare neuromuscular disorder characterized by progressive paralysis of the eye muscles.
• Mitochondrial anomalies are often observed in muscle biopsies of patients with PEO, suggesting a mitochondrial origin for the disease.

Observation:

• A patient with PEO and muscle biopsy findings of mitochondrial anomalies presented with signs of moderately increased metabolism.
• These metabolic signs were indicative of an underlying thyroid disorder.

Findings:

• The patient was diagnosed with Hashimoto's thyroiditis, an autoimmune condition affecting the thyroid gland.
• The study highlights a potential association between Hashimoto's thyroiditis and the development or exacerbation of progressive external ophthalmoplegia.

Implications:

• This case suggests that thyroid dysfunction, specifically Hashimoto's thyroiditis, should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with PEO and mitochondrial anomalies.
• Understanding the relationship between ophthalmoplegia plus and thyroid dysfunction may lead to improved diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for affected individuals.