Clinical features

Overt hypothyroidism including such features as:

• flaky, dry, yellowish skin; hair loss; hoarse voice; weight gain; constipation; menorrhagia; psychiatric changes - from non-specific depression to organic psychoses; occasionally, carpal tunnel syndrome
• often, history of previous thyroidectomy or radioiodine treatment

Other features:

• depressed conscious level - may be comatose
• hypothermia (core temperature < 35øC) - body is cold and but without shivering
• bradycardia
• hypoventilation with hypoxia and hypercapnia
• other pathologies related to hypothyroidism eg heart failure, cyanosis
• hyponatraemia (Na < 130 mmol/l)
• hyporeflexia