Massive pericardial effusion and rhabdomyolysis secondary to untreated severe hypothyroidism: the first report

Abstract

Hypothyroidism is an endocrine disease with various clinical manifestations. It is a rare cause for rhabdomyolysis and massive pericardial effusion. We describe a case of severe hypothyroidism secondary to autoimmune hashimoto thyroiditis with massive pericardial effusion and rhabdomyolysis. Improvement of mentioned complications after hypothyroidism treatment and rule out of other possible causes are supportive clues that hypothyroidism is the main cause of patient’s rare presentation. With the best of our knowledge, it is the first report of rhabdomyolysis and massive pericardial effusion coincidence in a patient of adult population with primary uncontrolled hypothyroidism for years.

Keywords:

• Hypothyroidism
• Rhabdomyolysis
• Pericardial effusion

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to greatly thank all of the authorities and staff of the Yazd Diabetes Research Center, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran for their kind cooperation and support. Also, the authors are very thankful to the patient and his family for their kind helps.