ID 89 – Electrophysiologic changes in patients with untreated primary hypothyroidism

Abstract

Objective This study was aimed to evaluate the electrophysiologic findings in patients with untreated primary hypothyroidism. Methods Twelve patients with newly diagnosed primary hypothyroidism and 10 healthy control subjects were included in the study. Neuromuscular symptoms, and neurological examination and electrophysiological findings were obtained from the patient records. Results Four male and 8 female patients with a mean age of 52.8 ± 11.8 year was enrolled. Nine patients (75%) had complaints suggestive of muscle dysfunction including weakness (53%), fatiguability, muscle pain, stiffness, or cramps (42%). Only one patients (8.3%) had muscle complaints as the presenting symptom or the main reason for consulting a doctor. In this group, there were 2 cases (16.5%) with neuropathy, including 1 sensory and 1 sensorimotor, and 1 case (8.5%) with myopathy, and 5 of the cases (41.3%) with carpal tunnel syndrome. There was no significant relation between gender, duration of the disease, serum TSH levels, and the presence of clinical muscle weakness with the occurrence of neuropathy or myopathy. (P Conclusions In patients with untreated primary hypothyroidism, majority had the carpal tunnel syndrome. Neuropathy and myopathy were uncommon and rare findings, respectively. Key words Hypothyroidism, electromyography, neuropathy.