Myxedema is a skin condition, more common in women between 30 and 50 years old, which usually arises due to severe and prolonged hypothyroidism, leading to swelling of the face, for example.
Hypothyroidism is characterized by decreased production of hormones by the thyroid, leading to the appearance of symptoms such as headache, constipation and weight gain without an apparent cause. Understand what hypothyroidism is and how treatment is done.
Main symptoms
The main symptoms of myxedema are swelling of the face and eyelids, with the formation of a kind of pouch over the eyes. In addition, there may be swelling of the lips and extremities.
Although it is a more common condition to occur as a consequence of hypothyroidism, it can also occur, but less frequently, because of infections, trauma or use of drugs that depress brain function, such as sedatives and tranquilizers.
Types of myxedema
Myxedema can be classified into:
- Spontaneous adult myxedema, which arises due to dysfunction in the production of thyroid hormones; Congenital or primitive myxedema, in which the thyroid does not produce enough hormones since the baby's development - learn more about congenital hypothyroidism; Operative myxedema, which usually arises after surgery involving the thyroid, in which hormone levels decrease after the procedure.
The diagnosis is made by the endocrinologist based on the assessment of symptoms and blood tests that confirm hypothyroidism, such as TSH, T3 and T4.
If hypothyroidism is not treated correctly, it can develop into a potentially lethal condition, myxedematous coma, in which the thyroid is enlarged or not palpable, very marked facial and eyelid edema, delusions and decreased heart rate, for example.
How the treatment is done
Myxedema is treated with the aim of reversing hypothyroidism, that is, it is done with the replacement of hormones produced by the thyroid according to the recommendation of the endocrinologist.
After a few months of starting treatment, the doctor usually orders blood tests to check that thyroid hormone levels are normal and, therefore, adjust the dose if necessary. See which tests are essential for thyroid assessment.
