Unusual Presentation of Myxedema Coma in Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus With Hyperglycemia and Polysubstance Abuse

Background: Myxedema coma is a severe manifestation of hypothyroidism that typicallypresents with altered mental status and requires close monitoring in the intensive care unit dueto 30-60% mortality rate. Clinical Case: A 56 year old white male with type 1 diabetes with recurrent DKA, polysubstanceabuse, Bipolar disorder on lithium and post surgical hypothyroidism presented due to change inmental status after being brought in by sister. Patient was found to be lethargic with confusionthat worsened over the last week. The patient was admitted several times in the past monthsecondary to pneumonia, sepsis, and recurrent DKA. On physical examination, he found to have lethargy, macroglossia, hyporeflexia, and periorbitaledema. Patient had acute respiratory failure with metabolic encephalopathy, bradycardia,tachypnea, severe hyperglycemia, hypotension of 77/51, tachypnea of 31 breaths per minuteand hyponatremia. Laboratory findings showed T4 levels 2.87(n=5.28-9.87ug/dL) withundetectable FT4 and elevated TSH (>50, n=0.300-4.500uIU/mL). Electrolyte panel showedhyponatremia (133, n=136-145mmol/L), hyperglycemia up to 532mg/dL and lithium levels werewithin normal limits (n=0.5-1.5 mmol/L). Urine drug screen was positive for cocaine. A CT scanof the head was negative. His myxedema score was diagnostic (>60). The patient wasdiagnosed with myxedema coma and admitted to the ICU. Patient was treated with IV LT4 400mcg, LT3 10mcg and hydrocortisone 100mg and started onIV LT4 100mcg daily, LT3 2.5mcg daily and hydrocortisone 100mg Q8 hours. There was wideglycemic variation from 46-532 mg/dL on POCT. The patient improved clinically, with resolutionof lethargy, confusion, fatigue, improved appetite, and improved lab work of FT3 2.30 (n=2.28-3.96pg/mL), FT4 at 0.76 (n=0.50-1.26ng/dL) and was downgraded from the ICU. On hospitalday four, he was transitioned to oral levothyroxine and discharged home. Conclusion: It is important to diagnose early and promptly manage decompensatedhypothyroidism in the setting of other comorbidities such as hyperglycemia in diabetes andpolysubstance abuse. The cocaine in the system may cause tachypnea and tachycardia. Manyconditions may have altered mental status, but with a history of hypothyroidism, Myxedemacoma should be on the differential due to its high mortality rate.