Resolution of Hypothyroidism after Correction of Somatovisceral Reflex Dysfunction by Refusion of the Cervical Spine.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2015

Abstract

Psychosis is a rare initial presentation of new-onset hypothyroidism. The author describes the case of a 29-year-old woman who presented with psychosis caused by hypothyroidism, or myxedema madness. Although the patient's psychosis resolved after standard monotherapy using levothyroxine sodium, her hypothyroidism persisted. Imaging of the patient's cervical spine showed that previous C5-C6 and C6-C7 fusions had failed. The failed fusions were corrected, and the patient's hypothyroidism resolved, suggesting that the somatovisceral reflex was the cause of the patient's hypothyroidism. Although somatovisceral reflex dysfunctions are rare, physicians should consider them as potential underlying causes of their patients' presenting medical conditions.

Publication Title

The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association

Volume

115

Issue

1

First Page

46

Last Page

49

Comments

This article was originally published in Journal of the American Osteopathic Association, Volume 115, Number 1

The published version is available online at http://dx.doi.org/10.7556/jaoa.2015.007

Copyright © 2015, the American Osteopathic Association

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