eMedicine Specialties > Neurology > Neuromuscular Diseases

Thyroid Disease: Follow-up

Author: Gabriel Bucurescu, MD, MS, Staff Neurologist, Neurology Service, Philadelphia Veterans Affairs Medical Center
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Jan 29, 2009

Follow-up

Further Inpatient Care

  • Neurologic manifestations in thyroid diseases are manageable on an outpatient basis. Therapy is maintained for months (if not years). In most cases, neurologic abnormalities slowly resolve.
  • Thyroid storm and myxedema coma are exceptions. Both are emergencies that require aggressive treatment in the ICU. The mortality rate of thyroid storm can be as high as 20-40%. The symptoms usually are exaggerated manifestations of the symptoms seen in hyperthyroidism; a superimposed infection and the stress associated with it would exacerbate the symptoms. Fever, abdominal pain, delirium, and psychosis can occur. The patient may become obtunded. Thyroid storm should be suspected in any patient with severe hyperpyrexia, tachycardia, and a goiter.

Further Outpatient Care

Pregnant patients require follow-up at least monthly. Closely observe these newborns for thyroid disease.

Prognosis

Prognosis is generally good, since most symptoms are reversible with correction of the underlying problem.

Patient Education

For excellent patient education resources, visit eMedicine's Endocrine System Center. Also, see eMedicine's patient education article Thyroid Problems.

Miscellaneous

Medicolegal Pitfalls

Generally, no specific problem is anticipated unless the diagnosis is missed for months or years, which then results in permanent sequelae. However, such delays can occur because the early symptoms can be nonspecific.

 


More on Thyroid Disease

Overview: Thyroid Disease
Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Thyroid Disease
Treatment & Medication: Thyroid Disease
Follow-up: Thyroid Disease
References
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Further Reading

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Keywords

thyroid neuropathy, thyroid myopathy, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, Graves disease, myxedema, cretinism, thyrotoxicosis, Graves ophthalmopathy, thyroid eye disease, thyroid ophthalmopathy, thyroid orbitopathy, infiltrative ophthalmopathy, thyroid disease, T3, T4, thyroxine, thyroid hormones, regulation of thyroid hormones, myasthenia gravis, chronic thyrotoxic myopathy

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Gabriel Bucurescu, MD, MS, Staff Neurologist, Neurology Service, Philadelphia Veterans Affairs Medical Center
Gabriel Bucurescu, MD, MS is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Neurology, American Clinical Neurophysiology Society, and American Epilepsy Society
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Thomas A Kent, MD, Professor, Department of Neurology, Baylor College of Medicine; Neurology Care Line Executive, Michael E DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center
Thomas A Kent, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Neurology, American Neurological Association, New York Academy of Sciences, Royal Society of Medicine, Sigma Xi, and Stroke Council of the American Heart Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD, Senior Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Managing Editor

Agapito S Lorenzo, MD, Laboratory Director, Associate Professor, Departments of Neurology, Creighton University and University of Nebraska Medical Center
Agapito S Lorenzo, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Neurology and American Association of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Matthew J Baker, MD, Consulting Staff, Collier Neurologic Specialists, Naples Community Hospital
Matthew J Baker, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Neurology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Nicholas Y Lorenzo, MD, Chief Editor, eMedicine Neurology; Consulting Staff, Neurology Specialists and Consultants
Nicholas Y Lorenzo, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha and American Academy of Neurology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

 
 
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