RT Journal
A1 RASMUSSEN N, VAZQUEZ AM, TRIPP ME, NEAL W
T1 Pericardial effusion: A complication of hypothyroidism
JF American Journal of Diseases of Children
JO American Journal of Diseases of Children
YR 1979
FD March 1
VO 133
IS 3
SP 329
OP 329
DO 10.1001/archpedi.1979.02130030105019
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archpedi.1979.02130030105019
AB Although pericardial effusion is recognized as a relatively common complication of adult myxedema,1-3 its presence in children with untreated hypothyroidism seems to be a rare occurrence. While a leading pediatric textbook4 lists this disorder in the differential diagnosis of pericardial effusion, we were unable to find any case reports of hypothyroid children with this complication. We describe here a 12-year-old boy with Down's syndrome in whom pericardial effusion developed and in whom further investigation established the presence of primary hypothyroidism.Report of a Case.—A 12-year-old boy was admitted to West Virginia University Hospital, Morgantown, with a 30-day history of cough, dyspnea, and orthopnea. On admission, physical examination disclosed a very obese child of short stature with marked dyspnea. His temperature was normal; blood pressure, 90/75 mm Hg; pulse rate, 80 beats per minute; weight, 34 kg; and height, 109 cm. His estimated height age was 3½ years.