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MYXOEDEMATOUS ASCITES
Author(s) -
Clancy Bobert L.,
Mackay Ian R.
Publication year - 1970
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1970.tb50080.x
Subject(s) - ascites , medicine , laparotomy , thyroid , thyroiditis , gastroenterology , biopsy , surgery
A patient presented with recurrent rectal prolapse and intractable ascites, for which no cause was found despite numerous investigations and laparotomy. Eventually tests of thyroid function revealed hypothyroidism, thyroid biopsy showed an advanced destructive lymphocytic thyroiditis, and the ascites disappeared after treatment with thyroxine. This example of myxœdematous ascites typifies the general experience with this condition: intractable ascites, a long delay in diagnosis, rapid improvement after treatment with thyroxine, and a positive result to tests for thyroid antibodies.