Hypothyroid Graves' disease complicated with elephantiasis nostras verrucosa (ENV): a case report and review of the literature

Ukinc K., BAYRAKTAR M., Gedik A.

ENDOCRINE, vol.36, no.1, pp.6-9, 2009 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Review
  • Volume: 36 Issue: 1
  • Publication Date: 2009
  • Doi Number: 10.1007/s12020-009-9200-4
  • Journal Name: ENDOCRINE
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.6-9
  • Hacettepe University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Thyroid dermopathy is not a frequent feature of hyperthyroid Graves' disease, being present in less than 5% of the patients. Graves' disease has been shown to exist in euthyroid or hypothyroid forms in untreated patients. Here, we describe a case of hypothyroid Graves' disease with elephantiasis nostras verrucosa (ENV), which is an extreme form of thyroid dermopathy (TD). A 58-year-old female patient was admitted to the emergency department with somnolence, hypothermia, and bradycardia. Her mental status gradually worsened, resulting in a deep coma. She was intubated and followed in the intensive care unit, as she needed mechanical ventilatory assistance due to respiratory failure. She also had bilateral non-pitting edema, a cobblestone-like appearance, and hyperkeratotic greenish-brown-colored lesions in the pretibial and dorsal regions of the feet that were compatible with ENV. Hypothyroid Graves' disease is a very rare condition among autoimmune thyroid disorders, and ENV is an extremely rare form of TD. Here, we present a patient with hypothyroid Graves' disease and ENV.