MYXEDEMATOUS DROPSY

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Abstract
IN 1925 one of us reported on a number of cases of dropsy appearing in myxedematous patients, characterized by pitting edema of the extremities and pleural and peritoneal effusions (28). The dropsy cleared up on therapy with desiccated thyroid. This condition could be caused either by a disturbance of water and electrolyte metabolism or by cardiacinsufficiency (“Myxedema heart” of Zondek, 36). In the cases mentioned above, no obvious signs of congestive heart failure were found, and the dropsy was attributed to a disturbance of salt and water metabolism. Previously, several cases of myxedema with ascites and pitting edema of the lower extremities have been reported (14, 20, 21). These patients were not in congestive heart failure, and the edema disappeared on the administration of desiccated thyroid. Sven Zandren (35) published observations on dropsy in myxedematous patients to which both cardiac insufficiency and a disturbance in electrolyte metabolism appeared to contribute.

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