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

Endocrine. 2009 Aug;36(1):6-9. doi: 10.1007/s12020-009-9200-4. Epub 2009 Apr 24.

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.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Elephantiasis / etiology*
  • Elephantiasis / therapy
  • Female
  • Graves Disease / complications*
  • Graves Disease / therapy
  • Humans
  • Hypothyroidism / complications*
  • Hypothyroidism / therapy
  • Leg Dermatoses / etiology*
  • Leg Dermatoses / therapy
  • Middle Aged