Cerebellar Ataxia as the Presenting Feature of Hypothyroidism

  • Babu P Raj Jubilee Mission Medical College & Research Institiute, Thrissur.
  • R Anand Jubilee Mission Medical College & Research Institiute, Thrissur
  • B L Harikrishnan Jubilee Mission Medical College & Research Institiute, Thrissur
Keywords: Hypothyroidism, Gait ataxia, Reversible ataxia, Progressive non familial adult onset cerebellar degeneration

Abstract

Symptoms and signs of the hypothyroidism vary in relation to the magnitude and acuteness of the thyroid hormone deficiency. The usual clinical features are constipation, fatigue, cold intolerance and weight gain. Rarely it can present with neurologic problems like reversible cerebellar ataxia, dementia, peripheral neuropathy, psychosis and coma. We present the case of a 56 year old male who came to us with complaints of gait ataxia of 1 month duration with no sensory and labyrinthine pathologies. Investigations revealed frank hypothyroidism and patient improved dramatically with thyroxine supplementation.

Author Biographies

Babu P Raj, Jubilee Mission Medical College & Research Institiute, Thrissur.

Professor and Unit Chief, Department of General Medicine

R Anand, Jubilee Mission Medical College & Research Institiute, Thrissur

Senior Resident, Department of General Medicine

B L Harikrishnan, Jubilee Mission Medical College & Research Institiute, Thrissur

Assistant Professor, Department of General Medicine

Published
2016-12-30
How to Cite
Raj, B., Anand, R., & Harikrishnan, B. (2016). Cerebellar Ataxia as the Presenting Feature of Hypothyroidism. Kerala Medical Journal, 9(4), 172-173. https://doi.org/10.52314/kmj.2016.v9i4.431
Section
Case Series / Case Report